Tourist yacht arrival in Uligamu increases after two years

Haa Alifu Uligamu Council has said that the arrival of tourist yachts and cruise liners in the island has increased after a stagnant period of roughly two years.

Arrival of tourist boats per year in Uligamu dropped from 100 to 10 two years ago.

Vice President of Uligamu Council Ahmed Ziyad Hassan told Sun Online that the decrease was due to the introduction of MVR 2,000 as Inward and Outward fees by Maldives Customs Service, and the presence of pirates in the region.

He said that the number has increased from 10 last year to 52 so far this year; and is expected to pick up to 100 over the next few years.

The vessels normally anchor off Uligamu harbour for about three days, allowing tourists to disembark and visit the island, Ziyad said.

“They buy fuel and also visit normal shops. We don’t have any shops designed for tourists,” he told Sun Online.