Government orders spas in five of Villa Hotel Resorts to be closed down

The Tourism Ministry has ordered the closure of spas in five of famous businessman Gasim Ibrahim’s resorts.

An Official of Villa Hotels said that a letter was received last night, instructing the closure of spas operated in the company’s resorts. He also said that no such activities take place in their resorts, and that no checks were made by the Ministry of Tourism on how these spas are operated, before sending the letter.

A separate letter was sent by the Ministry of Tourism to each of the resorts.

One of the letters, dated yesterday, endorsed by the Deputy Minister of Tourism Ismael Yasir and addressed to Chairman of Villa Group Gasim Ibrahim, reads, “Following accusations of prostitution exercised in the spa of Paradise Island Resort operated by Villa Hotels on the island of Lankan Finolhu, we order the closure of the spa until further notice by this Ministry.”

When asked how the Ministry of Tourism came to know about prostitution in those resorts, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Ahmed Solih requested that this question be submitted “in writing”.

In a news conference held by DRP, its Deputy Leader Ibrahim Shareef said that instead of acting on the demand made at last Friday’s protest to close down the brothels in Male’, the government decides to pester Gasim Ibrahim with this order, and that this will have negative consequences on the Maldivian economy.

Shareef further said that he believes there are political motives behind the closure of professional spas instead of the brothels in Male’, and also behind the fact that just the spas operated in Gasim Ibrahim’s resorts have been asked to close down, when there are plenty of spas in several other resorts in Maldives.

Shareef further said that on behalf of DRP, he greatly condemns the government’s order for the closure of spas operated in Gasim Ibrahim’s resorts.