The long awaited dream of the Addu Atoll people was realised yesterday when the Shangril La’s Villingili Resort and Spa was opened for businesses.

Villingili Resort and Spa opened on the day Maldives gained independence from the British, is the first international luxury resort established in the south Maldives.

The inaugural ceremony held at the resort was attended by Tourism Minister Dr. Ahmed Ali Sawaadh , State Minister for Southern Province Mohamed Naseer , senior management of the resort and leading dignitaries of the atoll.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, tourism minister Dr. Sawaadh noted that the tourism in southern Maldives will see considerable expansion and development in the next 5 years. He said with the opening of Villingili Resort and Spa, the long awaited dreams of Addu people has come true.

The ceremony was also addressed by the General Manager of the Villingili Resort and Spa and CEO of Shangril – La.

Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa, Maldives is the first luxury resort in the southern Maldives, on Addu Atoll. The resort features 142 villas with views of the ocean or the island’s natural lush vegetation. The Maldives’ second international airport, Gan International Airport, is an eight-minute boat ride away from the resort and Malé International Airport is 70 minutes by domestic flights operating around the clock.

Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa is also the first resort in the Maldives to feature tree house villas. Perched on stilts three metres above the ground and featuring an elevated infinity pool, the tree house villas offers guests an original holiday experience with views of the surfing waves of the Indian Ocean through lush foliage. The resort has 16 tree house villas, affording beautiful views over the Indian Ocean. Guests will be able to choose to swim to the edge of their elevated infinity pool and gaze at the rolling waves coming in from the ocean or to recline on their day bed while enjoying the melody of the indigenous bird life.

President Mohamed Nasheed is expected to visit the resort on 28 July.

Source: Miadhu