Minister of Tourism Dr. Abdulla Mausoom has stated the Maldives has shown tourism can be managed safely even amid the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking on the reopening of local guesthouses for tourists, Tourism Minister Mausoom revealed over 55% of tourist beds in the Maldives are now in operation, while 12 international airlines and many charter jets are flying to the Maldives. He said the Maldives has set a benchmark of managing tourism safely amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He expressed gratitude for the decision of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to reopen the Maldives for tourism.
Maldives reopened its borders for tourists on July 15, more than three months after borders were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While resorts and liveaboards were permitted to resume operations on July 15, guesthouses in the atolls were permitted to reopen on October 15. However, hotels and guesthouses in the Greater Male’ Region remain closed, except for the establishments permitted to operate as transit hotels.
As per the statistics of the tourism ministry, 119 resorts, 116 liveaboards and 26 guesthouses have been permitted to resume operations, as of October 17. Meanwhile, 36 hotels have been permitted to operate as transit hotels.
The statistics revealed 26,720 tourist arrivals were recorded between July 15 and October 14.