Maldives to welcome international tourists from July 15. All details here

Maldives will be welcoming international tourists from July 15. The country closed its borders for the first time on March 27, 2020 due to Covid-19. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih made the announcements on June 23, 2020.

According to the new guidelines, issued by the Ministry of Tourism, on the uninhabited islands the resorts, marinas, tourist vessels and tourist hotels will open from July 15, 2020. As for the tourist guest houses and tourist hotels on the inhabited islands, they will open from August 1, 2020.

The government, in their notice, said that a prior confirmed booking in a registered tourist facility will be compulsory for all. Along with that, travellers will have to ensure that they stay at one facility during their entire stay, except for those requiring transit arrangements.

The guidelines also said that tourists will not have to pay any fee in case they require visa extension due to quarantine measures or if they are planning a long stay.

The notice also mentioned that those showing Covid-19 symptoms on arrival will have to undergo a PCR test. If a tourist is symptomatic, the tourist facility or hotel will have to bear the cost of the PCR test.

Also, in case a person tests positive on arrival, guest houses and hotels can choose to transfer them in their booked accomodation or to isolate them to a government run facility. In such a scenario, the tourist facility in the inhabited islands will be responsible for ensuring that associated costs are met.

If the result of the PCR test is negative, the tourist will be released from isolation.

The government has also given health authorities the permission to conduct random PCR tests, for which the government will bear the costs.

The notice also requested travellers who have a history of contact with a suspected or confirmed case of Covid- 19 within the past 14 days and who have fever or respiratory symptoms such as cough, sore throat, shortness of breath within the past 14 days to avoid travelling to Maldives.

The government issued detailed guidelines for tourists travelling to the country are available here.

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