During the Hotelier Maldives GM Forum inauguration, President-elect Dr Mohamed Muizzu expressed optimism regarding the completion of the new VIA terminal for the forthcoming peak tourism season, emphasizing his hope that the project’s contractors and investors would collaborate to ensure its readiness before the next peak season.
Initially awarded to Saudi Arabia’s Bin Laden Group in May 2016, the project faced delays for various reasons until the Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) renewed the contract with the Bin Laden Group in June 2019.
In addition to this development, Muizzu unveiled plans to expand the country’s aviation sector. This includes establishing 13 new domestic airports and creating a seaplane hub in the southern region, aiming to broaden tourism opportunities throughout the Maldives. He also outlined support for tourism development and facilitating larger passenger aircraft to boost visitor numbers.
The new VIA terminal project is valued at USD 357 million. It encompasses the construction of a 78,000-square-meter terminal designed to enhance annual passenger capacity to 7 million arrivals, an improvement from the existing 1.5 million.
