Nilaa Coral Island opens as Gaafu Dhaalu's third resort

Nilaa Coral Island Maldives has opened on Gdh. Kodegalaa, becoming the third resort in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll, the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation announced on Monday. The ministry said the opening will bring jobs and business opportunities closer to home for people in Gaafu Dhaalu. With Visit Maldives Year marked next year, it said each new resort helps the country welcome more visitors and spread the benefits of tourism to more islands. The resort is positioned at the upper end of the market and is designed to host up to 40 guests at a time. It has seven villas facing the sea, in three types: two-bedroom, three-bedroom and a top-tier five-bedroom villa. Bookings are now open. The resort says it lies about 15 minutes from Maavarulu Airport. According to trade publication TTN Worldwide, Nilaa Coral Island is the first Maldivian property of the Italian group Holding Carisma. Gaafu Dhaalu's two other resorts are Ayada Maldives and NH Collection Maldives Havodda Resort. Tourism Ministry figures show 180 resorts are operating in the Maldives with 45,171 beds. Of the 1.6 million visitors who have arrived so far this year, 1.2 million stayed at resorts.