Maldives will re-open for international tourists on July 15

July 24, 2020
New Delhi: Maldives, an island nation with world-class holiday destinations, will reopen for international tourists on July 15, with no requirement for foreign tourists to provide Covid-negative certificate or requirement for quarantine.

While, resorts, Liveaboards and hotels located at uninhabited islands will be open from  July 15. Guest Houses and hotels located at inhabited islands will be open from  August 1.

Tourists travelling to Maldives will be provided a free 30-day tourist visa on arrival, and a health
declaration card will be required as part of the on-arrival procedure. All arriving passengers will have to wear masks.

However travellers who have a history of contact with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID- 19 within the past 14 days and persons who have fever or respiratory symptoms such as cough, sore throat, shortness of breath within the past 14 days are advised not to travel to Maldives, according to
the guidelines for re-opening the tourism sector, “Public Health Interventions to Prevent COVID-19 Transmission in the Tourism Sector”,.

A confirmed booking in a tourist establishment registered with the Ministry of Tourism, prior to travelling is mandatory.

Maldives relies heavily on the tourism industry as it accounts for the largest foreign exchange earnings, making it the biggest economic contributor in the country. However, it has come to a standstill due to the stringent public health measures taken to curb COVID-19. The tourism industry has been gearing up to restart; it is set to resume in compliance to protective measures, taking into account the safety of tourists and staff working in the industry, the Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation said.

Tourists will not be required to submit any medical test results for entry to the Maldives. However, travellers presenting with symptoms of Covid-19 upon arrival will be subject to a PCR test at the traveller’s cost. The tourist will be sent to a designated facility for isolation. Isolation will be done at a designated transit facility or at the tourists’ destination resort (depending on the resort policy). If the result of the PCR test is positive, the tourist may continue isolation at the resort or will be transferred to a designated state-run isolation facility. If the result of the PCR test is negative, the tourist will be released from isolation.

The guidelines for re-opening the tourism sector, “Public Health Interventions to Prevent COVID-19 Transmission in the Tourism Sector”, was released today by the Ministry of Tourism giving comprehensive information for all sectors across the tourism industry on their standard operating procedures, as well as important information to tourists

—-India News Stream