Hit hard by COVID-19, Shangri-La Villingili ceases operations indefinitely

Shangri-La Villingili Resort has been closed indefinitely with its employees made redundant. 

The resort, operated in Addu Atoll, is run through a joint venture company named Addu Investment Pvt Ltd, which is a company formed by the Maldivian government and Shangri-La Maldives limited. 

A letter signed by General Manager of the resort Rahim Flynn to employees read that the resort had been closed since April due to COVID-19 and that the resort had worked to restart operations during this time while maintaining the safety of employees and tourists.

However, based on the current circumstances the operations of the resort cannot be recommenced, which has led the management to cease operations indefinitely. 

A small number of employees required for maintenance would be retained while the others would be made redundant, read the letter which stated that it was a difficult decision to be made.

The Maldives closed its borders in late March due to COVID-19 and only opened them on July 15. The influx of tourists into the nation since then has been slow but rising day by day. Many businesses in the country were negatively impacted due to the virus and its economic impact.