Ambitious plans by Lithuanian mega-brand Olialia to develop an ‘all blondes’ resort – in the shape of a gigantic high-heeled shoe – have entered phase two, after the company reported that a delegation had visited the Maldives and selected three islands suitable for the project.
Olialia did not reveal the name of the islands, but did publish CGI images of the planned resort, designed by “famous Lithuanian architect” Valerijus Starkovskis, and claimed it that construction would begin “in a few years” with a grand opening in 2015.
Tenders for operators of the hotel, restaurants and serivce providers “would be announced soon”, the company said, also claiming that it would hold a “worldwide competition” to select the manager of the blonde island, “which every citizen in the world will be able to participate in.”
Aside from reclaiming an island in the shape of women’s footwear, the present draft includes an initial 61 guest villas, several restaurants, a nightclub, a beauty salon and spa centers, a marina, a boardwalk, mall, helipad and a “centre of harmony and psychology”. Olialia said it intends to eventually increase the resort to 500 rooms.
The central gimmick of the proposal is to staff the resort entirely with blondes and ensure all buildings “comply with the spirit and the worldview of blondes”, because, according to Olialia’s managing director Giedre Pukiene, “blondes are a great power that should not be underestimated. We are smart, beautiful, reckless and purposeful.”
In addition to the resort, a specially designed charter airline staffed only by blondes, ‘Olialia airlines’, will deliver tourists to the island, Pukiene claimed.
Investors apparently include interests in Lithuania, Russia, UK, Germany, the United Arab Emirates and an as-yet undisclosed Maldivian travel company.
Olialia is a highly recognisable brand within Lithuania with a reported income of $US10 million. It claims to be an Eastern European version of Richard Branson’s Virgin company, and is well known for its gratuitous use of blonde women in its marketing. The company now markets an assortment of products ranging from Cola and Italian pizza restaurants to luxury limousines, a nightclub and a (blonde) modelling agency.
Olialia made headlines worldwide in September after it first proposed the Maldives resort concept, sparking heated debate over whether such a resort would be discriminatory or too controversial for the country’s conservative self-image – or even whether the whole idea was a devious marketing gimmick.
If legitimate, the resort faces several practical obstacles – the first being that so far, the Maldivian Tourism Ministry knows nothing about the project.
“I’m sure I would have heard about this,” said Minister of Tourism Mariyam Zulfa, adding that such project would eventually pass through the tourism ministry, be subject to the Tourism Act and ultimately require cabinet approval “and debate over the various merits and demerits.”
However, she said, the government “promoted private enterprise, and was not in the [business] of either killing or encouraging ideas. What a private party does is their prerogative and we do not interfere in how resorts are run.”
After lowering cabinet’s raised eyebrows, a second challenge for Olialia would be Maldivian employment regulations, which state that resorts must employ a minimum of 50 percent Maldivian staff – few of whom are naturally blonde.
Thirdly, several local marine biologists contacted by Minivan News who were shown images of Olialia’s resort pronounced it “ridiculous”.
“I couldn’t comment until I see the shape of the original island,” said one, “but there’s no visible beach protection and the island would suffer from huge erosion – the beach would just disappear – while sedimentation could kill the surrounding reef.”
“I don’t know if I should laugh about it or cry about the degradation of human species,” said another, after seeing the images.
Nonetheless should the Maldives hesitate in its embrace of the concept, “we have received offers of cooperation from the owners of islands in Greece and the Carribean,” Pukiene noted.
“Currently, the experts are studying the benefits of 12 islands. We do not exclude the possibility of opening several blondes resorts, because the interest in the project is huge.”
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I am as a matter of fact not an idea killer either but is there anything we uphold in this country. Is this innovation? Is it creating a value we can uphold?
Innovation also has to do with social and economical well being? What about YES - the Labor Law and what about the obligation of local capacity building? If this particular investment is given leverage in the country policies, I wonder who is the "Maldivian Company" whose partners are definitely bordering on corruption and using influences.
I do not personally have a problem if women want to "degrade" themselves to sell their image to make money either. But it concerns me if Maldives sells its soul to make a buck!
Maldives officially gone whorehouse?
When the author of this article wrote that Olialia has an annual income of 10 Mil....
All I have to say is, 10 Mil to get hold of 3 Islands, Entertainment etc... Get Investments minimum 45-50 Mil. Spend Hectic Minimum 2 years to Finish it off. With that concept I pretty much doubt. In other words "nufoaraa fothin foo galhan".
It definitely could be a snap for an empire earning over billions.
I've tried searching for financial info on the company. Zip! Except for the Girl Band & Modelling Agency and the holding company having ice cream palors. There is nothing.
Hmph! Who am I to talk about it. Right! They just could be... you know... badabing badaben badabon kapees! Right?
Another profoundly stupid idea by an unknown Lithuanian company......on par with the ridiculous, never to be completed, THE WORLD project in Dubai. Whoever thought up this hairbrained scheme needs to see a shrink. What's wrong with building this crap out in Lithuania?
Minivan News really will print anything these days! This is not a credible news story.
Its just an idea pitched by a fly-by-night operation. I doubt they have the finances to see this through.
I would suggest you look for more newsworthy stories.
I agree with heck. I prefer Brunettes.
This will generate us much halal revenue we can use for religious purposes.
Honestly that drawing of the resort doesn't look like a high-heeled shoe, but it looks more like a woman's opened legs! well with the shape of the resort like that i guess tourists will see (and experience) similar things inside the resort as well i.e blonds opened legs!!!
If it is too good to be true, it usually is.
This proposal is a bloody insult to us brown Maldivians... It is so weired that Tourism Minister Zulfa does not see any problem with this proposal. Are we too dumb to notice that this proposal is racist?
Dear Editor,
In Islam it is Haram to promote such tourism, which involves selling the beauty of the women. I believe Tourism Ministry should uphold the Islamic culture and Sharia when giving permit to operate such hotel, especially a hotel operated by infidels.
Regards, mohamed
it is a rediculous idea!
Maldives is already unofficially whorehouse. A man can have any amount of woman and women are treated like whores. Who this crazy Heck is?.
naked beach and an island wud get us more income ..we start from the manager ...
My only concern is that the High Heeled Shoe island did not have "TGIF". As such, I do not believe that the shoe-island idea is by Pukiene or any other blonde.
Blondes have TGIF written on their own shoes ... Toes Go In First! (Obviously, as MD Pukiene says, blondes are smart!)
"images of the planned resort, designed by “famous Lithuanian architect” Valerijus Starkovskis"
I have not heard of him before this article, but he appears to be "famous" for designing restaurant and casino interiors, and lighting in a shopping centre, so is not exactly qualified to design an island..and yes, the effects of wave and current erosion will be interestíng to watch.
@heck, for once we agree on something!
Such rubbish does not need to go up to Cabinet for decision. It should stop at the Tourism Ministry.
hehe. good one @ maria A did
This is one of the stupidest most misogynistic ideas ever. Might as well say that the hostesses also need to have implants and be six foot 7!
And then then just ignore half the resort's staff (maldivians forced to get implants and dye their hair yellow) who'll appear to be unbalanced, midget, freak barbie dolls in comparison.
Stupid idea.
what about labour quota? will the maldivian workers on this island have to wear wigs/bleached blond hair or will it be entirely run by blod haired blue eyed east european staff? what does our LITTLE Human Resources minister say about this? what about the Golden Labour Law rules? very dodgy.
hi, i'm from Lithuania. I've no idea how real these plans are but just want you to know that Olialia is part of one of the biggest publishing groups here so it could have investment connections to carry it out. although it looks rather absurd to me.
Anni's government seems ready to do anything for money.. So very likely this project will be approved. But if this happens me for sure will change my political allegiance and will start working for the present opposition. This is the most absurd project Ive heard of since I read about racism in Nazi Germany.
If you need more info about Lithuania as a country where the population of blonds is the biggest in the world (even the president is blondy!!)you may find it in way2lithuania.com
@ Way2Lithuania, who cares if u have highest number of blonds or red heads... is being blond a big pride to boast about? pls dnt be racist.
what is blondes?
are there ANY Maldivian blondes?
All these talks about blonds remind me of dumb blond jokes. he he
Q: How many blonds does it take to run a resort?
A: None, cox all of them are too busy serving themselves to the tourists. 😛
oh what's the big deal, if blondes (real or bleached) want to work there then let it be it.
What if the open a resort of red heads, brunettes or even a black woman resort....would people make a stink about it?
there will always be a market for men that like that stuff (and some women too).
Dear Olialia please join us in Maldives we are looking for Modeling agency like you company to join us as joint venture partner The project involves a Coral Virgin Island of Master plan and architectural design works Coral Virgin Island Resort & Yacht Marina facilities, Restaurants, luxury water villas, Bar, Spa, Swimming pool, floating Sea Lotus Lounge, Including beds and sofas glass bottom that connect the new development Maldives.
The Coral Virgin Island Resort & Yacht Marina reef, lagoon are located in Raa Atoll its 30min away from GMR Ibrahim Nasir International airport of Maldives. The new reclaimed land with the planned facilities should be protected against sea level rise and wave attack for at least the next 100 years. One of the advantages of this atoll near some of the luxury resorts and other inhabited islands in the Maldives and would therefore need less capital expenditure to create buildable land.
For this project we have been done agreement from government this virgin island property government already agreed to give us 50 years.
f you are interested to help me to find to build Resort yacht marina we can build World’s first luxury Eco friendly Resort yacht marina. As there are lots of yachts visiting to Maldives. In yacht marina we can make money by providing fuels, waters, foods, accommodation and repair services. This will be our additional service and profits.
Beach & Water villas all rooms including private swimming pool including yacht Marina ) and Restaurant,Bar, Swimming Pool, Golf Course, Diving Center , Water Sports Center, Piano Bar, etc