How the Maldives Emerged as the Leading Tourism Success Story of 2020

For most tourist destinations, losing a million visitors compared to the previous year would signal a crisis, often caused by a devastating natural event. But that was pre-2020, before the global travel landscape was forever altered by the coronavirus pandemic.

Typically attracting over 1.7 million tourists annually, the Maldives, an idyllic Indian Ocean paradise known for its romantic allure, saw just around 500,000 visitors in 2020. Despite the steep drop, it stands out as one of the greatest tourism successes during the pandemic.

As many countries shut their borders, the Maldives took a different path, opting to fully reopen to visitors from all nations in July 2020, irrespective of the virus situation elsewhere.

The decision was partly driven by economic factors. With tourism contributing a staggering 28% to the Maldives' GDP, one of the highest rates in the world, the country faced immense pressure to keep the industry afloat.

The Maldives' geography is a perfect fit for coronavirus safety measures. With many resorts situated on private islands – over a thousand to choose from, even before considering man-made islands – it made isolation and social distancing incredibly simple.

While countries in Asia and the Pacific have been more hesitant to reopen than those in Europe and North America, this left tourists with limited options for vacation destinations in the region.

As other popular island escapes in the Asia-Pacific, like Tahiti, Bali, and Phuket, stayed closed, the Maldives capitalized on its relatively stable situation with the virus. Countries that have since reopened, like Thailand and Sri Lanka, have imposed strict conditions, such as a mandatory two-week hotel quarantine before travelers can explore further.

Of course, there were some bumps along the way. The Maldives initially opened its doors without restrictions in July, but by September, it reinstated a requirement for all visitors to provide proof of a negative Covid-19 test upon arrival.

The Maldives' focus on luxury resorts also worked in its favor when it came to managing the pandemic. Many high-end resorts offer additional Covid testing on-site as an extra safeguard against the spread of the virus.

Thoyyib Mohamed serves as the managing director of the Maldives Marketing & PR Corporation, the nation's official tourism body.

According to him, the Maldives welcomed 555,494 visitors in 2020, exceeding their revised target of 500,000 arrivals for the year.

He notes, 'The Maldives' greatest advantage lies in its unique geography,' explaining that strict hygiene measures coupled with the ability to spread visitors across multiple islands proved to be an attractive draw for travelers seeking a peaceful escape.

We marketed the destination as a sanctuary for travelers.

Infrastructure played a key role. Many resorts offer private boat or plane transfers as part of their packages, allowing visitors to reach their final destinations without encountering many, if any, other tourists.

Jan Tibaldi, general manager of One&Only Reethi Rah, shares with Dinogo Travel that while visitor numbers in 2020 were similar to those of 2019, there was a notable rise in the amount of time guests spent at the resort.

He remarked, 'Our guests are traveling less often, but staying longer and with greater intention.'

However, it's important to acknowledge that no travel story in the Covid era is without its challenges.

The Maldives shut its borders in late March, leaving around 500 tourists still in the country.

Many Maldivians working in hospitality found themselves effectively 'stranded in paradise,' forced to remain at the resorts where they worked to care for the few remaining guests.

In March 2020, two staff members at the Kuredu Island Resort & Spa tested positive for the virus. As a precaution, the entire resort went into lockdown. While quarantining on a beautiful tropical beach wasn't the worst fate for the guests, it was far less idyllic for the staff tasked with maintaining the resort indefinitely.

Despite the challenges, the numbers reveal that the Maldives has largely kept the pandemic under control since reopening.

By February 2021, the country had reported 17,828 confirmed cases and just 58 deaths.