Indian hotel giants to invest in Maldives

Haveeru: Indian hotel giants Oberoi and Leela are set to develop tourist resorts in Maldives, Tourism Minister Moosa Zameer announced Saturday.
The minister, back from an official visit to India, told reporters at the Ibrahim Nasir International Airport that the two companies have identified two uninhabited islands in the Maldives to develop as tourist resorts. He, however, did not identify the islands.

“They’re in the process of finalising the projects,” Zameer said.
Oberoi Hotels and Resorts, from the Oberoi Group, is a global chain of premium five-star luxury business, leisure and beach hotels located in India and several cities across Asia and the Middle East.

The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts is owned and managed by Hotel Leelaventure Limited which was established in 1983 in Mumbai. The company is a part of The Leela Group whose portfolio includes hotel and resort properties, IT and business parks as well as real estate development.
According to the minister, he had also met with Indian tourism authorities and associations and discussed ways on improving cooperation between the two countries. It has been agreed to create a working group on tourism cooperation, he added.