Male’, Maldives – Tourism Ministry said that 38 guesthouses have been given the permission to operate and reopen their services to tourists.
Guesthouses in inhabited islands were initially closed on March 17th due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and reopened on 15th October. According to the tourism statistics, 38 guesthouses in 11 islands of 5 different Atolls of Maldives have been given approval for reopening. This includes N.Fohdhoo, K.Huraa, K.Maafushi, K.Guraidhoo, AA.Mathiveri, S.Maradhoo Feydhoo, AA.Ukulhas, AA.Thohdoo and V.Thinadhoo in addition to V.Fulidhoo and AA.Rasdhoo.
Health Protection Agency has made it mandatory for citizens of islands with operating guesthouses to wear masks. Hence, Tourism Ministry has decided to donate masks to citizens of islands with operating guesthouses.
Tourists currently arriving into the Maldives require no prior visa, however must register with the Maldives Immigration portal, IMUGA and present a negative PCR test taken no prior than 96 hours to arrival.
Maldives has a total of 530 registered guesthouses with a total of 8,789 beds according to the statistics released by the Ministry. Guesthouses were allowed to open on October 15 since the national borders of Maldives were closed in March of this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak. Maldives has welcomed a total of of 27,217 tourists during the first three months since the borders reopened. Previously the government said that it is expected to have around 800,000 tourists this year which was later changed to 100,000 tourists for the year. The tourism industry is expected to further develop with the reopening of the guesthouses as well.
