Ministry of Tourism has permitted over 100 guesthouses in the Maldives 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 until November 19, 102 guesthouses in 24 islands have been permitted to resume operations. The statistics show that the current bed-capacity of tourist facilities exceed 2,132.
In the guidelines issued regarding the resumption of guesthouse services, HPA stated guesthouses located within the premises of a household in which people are living in will not be allowed to resume services yet. HPA stated tourists staying in guesthouses are also not permitted to enter any local households in the island.
While tourists are permitted to enter cafes and restaurants in the island, such establishments must implement special safety measures before serving tourists. Tourists are required to wear face masks at all times when in public.