Ministry of Tourism has permitted over 50 guesthouses to resume operations.
Guesthouses in the atolls were officially allowed to reopen on October 15, 212 days after local guesthouses suspended operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, the ministry announced guesthouses in the atolls will be permitted to resume operations upon confirmation of the fulfilment of the health and safety standards set by Health Protection Agency (HPA) and the approval from the respective island council.
According to statistics of tourism ministry, from October 15 onwards, 53 guesthouses in 5 atolls have been permitted to resume operations. The tourism ministry said the majority of the guesthouses permitted to resume operations are from Kaafu and Alifu Alifu Atoll. As such, 22 establishments in Kaafu Atoll and 21 establishments in Alifu Alifu Atoll were permitted to commence operations.
The tourism ministry further revealed 1,210 tourists arrived in guesthouses between October 15 and November 1, with the most number of arrivals recorded in Maafushi, Kaafu Atoll.