An official from Tourism Ministry says 3 parties have applied to develop a local airport in Farukolhu island located in Shaviyani atoll. At least one them is a foreign party. The ministry will soon start discussions with the parties and open for proposals. The winner who gets to develop Farukolhu Airport will also get an island to develop a resort in same atoll. This is a time of many foreign investors are coming to Maldives. Last week, Blackstone Group, a New York Stock Exchange listed company, bought majority shares of the biggest seaplane operation in the world which is Maldivian Air Taxi and Trans Maldivian Airways operating in Maldives.