The Maldives government on Tuesday, 21st March, increased the resort built-up area from 30% to 50% of the total land area of the island.
The Ministry of Tourism said that the minimum beach length per room has been reduced from 5 meters to 3 meters, which is applicable for developing and operating resorts. Beach length per room will be considered as 60% of the total perimeter of the island from the mean tide line instead of the former vegetation line.
Additionally, the ministry made revisions to the maximum structural building height allowed for resort facilities. The maximum structural height for guest facilities including rooms should be 12 meters, the maximum number of floors of these facilities should be 3 meters including the ground floor, and the back of the house structures should not exceed a maximum of 15 meters.
The ministry urged developers to sustain the island’s natural characteristics while developing, specifically the vegetation of the island.
“However, resort developers may propose unique structures that add value to the product, where exceptions to the aforementioned structural height restrictions may be brought, in accordance with the ministry’s policies,” the ministry said.
The latest amendment to the resort boundary follows a recent set of new regulations that allow developers to extend boundary from 500 meters to 1,000 meters.