Villingili (Seenu Atoll)
| Villingili | |
|---|---|
| Holiday island resort | |
| Country | Maldives |
| Administrative atoll | Addu Atoll |
| Distance to Malé | 36.64 km (22.77 mi) |
| Dimensions | |
| • Length | 3 km (2 mi) |
| • Width | 0.8 km (0.5 mi) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 0 |
| Time zone | UTC+05:00 (MST) |
Villingili is the only resort island of Addu Atoll, Maldives.
In 1997 the government of the Maldives contracted the American firm Abonmarche to build a large resort and marina there, to attract tourism. Later, the government redacted this contract in 2000 and, finding no other bidders, awarded it to another firm called "Energy Tours" to build a smaller resort. Energy Tours defaulted on this contract.
In 2005 Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom contracted Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts, a Hong Kong-based company, to build the first luxury resort in Addu Atoll. The resort is being developed by Addu Investment Private Limited (70%) and the Maldivian Government (30%). The resort cost an estimated USD 150 million and opened in early 2009. Shangri-La's Villingili Resort & Spa features a range of 132 villas including two Presidential Villas.
The island is also notable for having the highest natural elevation in the Maldives, Mount Villingili. It stands at a modest 5.1 metres (17 ft) and is located at tee number eight on Villingili’s Golf Course – the only golf course in the Maldives. Despite its humble height, it dwarfs over the previously known highest point on Addu Atoll that stands at only 2.4 metres (7 ft 10 in) above sea level.[1]