Trevor KucheranLast Updated
The President of Maldives said that the country's border will be reopening for tourism on July 15th, 2020 and international flights will resume.
The gorgeous 1190 coral islands and 26 atolls of the Maldives are almost completely reliant on tourism and for the first time in 47 years, they have not had a foreign arrival.
Tourists from all countries will be able to enter the Maldives.
Travelers will be required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test that was taken no more than 96 hours prior to departure.
Travelers can expect the following procedures:
- Thermal screening of all passengers
- Health declaration filled out upon arrival
- Travelers must wear masks while in transit
- Free 30 day visa will be provided
- Travelers showing symptoms may be subjected to Covid-19 testing
- All passengers should have travel health insurance that covers covid
Tourists will only be allowed to stay only at resorts.
Budget hotels commonly known as guesthouses will be still closed across the country.
Guesthouses will be reopening for travelers starting on August 1st, 2020 (Some reports have said this is delayed to September 1)
Earlier this week, the Acting Managing Director of the Maldives Airports Company Limited said that there are 10 airlines that have reserved slots to start flight operations at Velana International Airport.
Even with the new health and safety protocols in place to allow the return of tourism, it might be a while before levels are anywhere near the ‘norm’. The Maldives are most famous for being a honeymoon destination, and with many weddings being put on hold, the number newlywed couples looking to take their honeymoon are dramatically down.
The Maldives are hoping their ideas to get travellers to return will be effective, as tourism directly accounts for 39.6% of their GDP, making it the most reliant nation on Earth to tourism.
See the complete list of countries reopening their borders for tourism.
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Disclaimer: Maldives’s reopening news is ever-changing and being updated constantly. We do our best to keep this article up to date with all the latest information, but the decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling.
Article originally published June 23, 2020