Maldives removes all entry restrictions for travelers

The Maldives will reopen to all visitors next month, with no restrictions in place.

A representative from the tourism board has confirmed that the Indian Ocean destination will welcome tourists from all countries in July.

Although a draft proposal initially suggested that travelers would need to present a negative Covid-19 test certificate, the nation has decided to allow visitors without prior testing or quarantine.

No new visa requirements or additional charges will apply either.

Currently, only those with super yachts or private jets can access the Maldives, while regular travelers will have to wait a bit longer.

The Maldives, which closed its borders in March, announced a phased reopening last month, with flights to its main international airport set to resume in July.

“We are preparing to reopen our borders to visitors in July, 2020,” stated an official release from the Ministry of Tourism on May 30.

The statement emphasized that no extra charges would be imposed on visitors, addressing concerns over additional visa fees and landing charges.

Ready for a comeback

The Maldives has reported nearly 2,000 confirmed Covid-19 cases and five deaths to date.

Despite the country being closed to international visitors since the first cases were recorded, around 30 resorts have remained operational, with guests opting to self-isolate there instead of returning home.

Although officials initially indicated the popular honeymoon destination would reopen by the end of the year, this timeline has now been moved up.

To maintain safety, the government is introducing a 'Safe Tourism License' for accredited tourist facilities that meet specific regulations, including having a certified medic on standby and maintaining an adequate stock of personal protective equipment.

The initial plan required incoming travelers to have a confirmed booking at a licensed tourist facility, but this requirement appears to have been relaxed.

In a statement released last month, Ali Waheed, the Maldives' tourism minister, referred to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic as 'more devastating than the 2004 tsunami and the 2008 global financial crisis.'

'For the first time in 47 years of tourism in the Maldives, we have seen no tourist arrivals since March,' he said, adding, 'We cannot keep our borders shut for much longer.'

In 2019, the Maldives hosted over 1.7 million visitors, and officials had anticipated this number would grow to two million this year.