The government has expressed concern regarding the dissemination of false reports by media outlets regarding the alleged issuance of a travel advisory for the Maldives.
Several media outlets have recently published reports claiming that the United Kingdom (UK) has issued a travel advisory for the Maldives due to terrorism threats. However, both Maldivian and UK authorities have denied these reports. As such, the High Commissioner of the UK to the Maldives Caron Rohsler said that the advice on terrorism was updated globally in June and that the change made does not relate specifically to Maldives.
Additionally, Minister of Tourism Dr. Abdulla Mausoom expressed concern that the false reports would impact the economy, as the UK is one of the top source markets for the Maldivian tourism industry. He questioned the integrity of the media outlets that published the reports and urged them to verify their information and be more responsible.
A travel advisory is an official warning statement issued by government agencies to provide information about the relative safety of travelling to or visiting specific countries or destinations. The purpose is to enable travelers to make an informed decision about a particular travel destination, and to help travelers prepare adequately for what may be encountered on their trip.