Business & Economy

Maldives to open its borders and restart tourism Jul. 15

Malé, June 23 (efe-epa).- The Maldivian government announced on Tuesday that it will reopen its beaches to tourism on Jul. 15, after it closed the borders on Mar. 27 with part of the measures to control the pandemic, a reopening It will be accompanied by few restrictions and specific tests of COVID-19.

The President of the Maldives, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, reported at a press conference on the decision, a measure that seeks to revive the archipelago’s economy, which although directly dependent on tourism, has seen the arrival of tourists in the last three months reduce to zero, assuming an unprecedented blow.

“As we open the borders, our objective will be to recover as soon as possible,” said the president, who specified that although the hotel complexes in uninhabited islands will return to activity on Jul. 15, the opening in guest houses and hotels in Inhabited islands will be postponed to Aug. 1.

The return to activity, among others, of the three international airports of the archipelago, is part of the second phase of de-escalation of confinement in the country, which will also entail the opening of public offices, schools and restaurants.

In this context, Solih recalled that some countries such as Germany have declared the Maldives a safe tourist destination, after having registered 2,217 confirmed cases of coronaviruses so far, 391 still active, and 8 deaths.

Accompanying the announcement, the Maldivian Ministry of Tourism detailed in a guide today the specific requirements that tourists arriving in the archipelago must meet within the new normality by COVID-19.

Thus, he informed that although the granting of visas is maintained upon arrival in the country, it will be mandatory for the visitor to have previously registered with a tourist facility.

In addition, the temperature will be checked for all newcomers and anyone who shows symptoms of coronavirus must undergo a PCR test, a test that must also be performed by their companions and the cost of which will be borne by the traveler or the place where they are staying.

The health authorities will also carry out random PCR tests at the airport, although in these cases the test will be free.

“The Maldives believes that the key to successful tourism after a pandemic is a balance of trust and convenience. That is what we offer when we reopen in July,” the report stressed. EFE-EPA

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