Villingili | |
|---|---|
holiday island resort | |
  Villingili Location in Maldives | |
| Coordinates: 0°40′43″S 73°11′41″E / 0.67861°S 73.19472°E | |
| Country | Maldives |
| Administrative atoll | Addu Atoll |
| Dimensions | |
| • Length | 3 km (2 mi) |
| • Width | 0.8 km (0.5 mi) |
| Elevation | 5 m (17 ft) |
| 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. In 2000 the government withdrew this contract, 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 and 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 Villingili Shangri-La Resort is currently closed indefinitely [1]
The island is also notable for having the highest natural elevation in the Maldives, Mount Villingili. It stands at a modest 5.1m is (16.75 ft) and is located at tee number eight on Villingili's Golf Course – the only golf course in the Maldives. The previously known highest point on Addu Atoll stands at only 2.4 metres (7 ft 10 in) above sea level.[2]