‘Maldives Could Start Welcoming Tourists in July’

Saturday 25th of April 2020

‘Maldives Could Start Welcoming Tourists in July’

Minister of Finance Ibrahim Ameer has announced that Maldives could start welcoming tourists in July with the commencement of issuing on-arrival visa. The Minister made the statement speaking at the press conference held on 24th April.

However, he further stated that tourist arrivals is expected decrease 50%, along with a reduction of bed nights by 39%. Tourism recovery is estimated to take time, considering that the Maldives was one of the countries hit the hardest by the pandemic due to its dependency on the tourism industry.

The country had temporarily suspended issuing on arrival visa for all tourists on 27th March 2020. With this decision, the tourism industry has come to a halt resulting in temporary suspensions of several resorts in the Maldives. Other measures taken by the government include a temporarily ban on foreign passenger vessels and the nationwide shutdown of guesthouses.