The Maldives to open for international tourists

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Maldives
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Frustrated by looking at the face of the same four walls every day for the last three months, many long to travel. Those wishing for some relaxation soon have reasons to rejoice. The Maldives is reopening to international visitors on July 15. The island destination will also allow guest houses and hotels to start operating from August 1. 

In what’s certainly welcome news for eager travellers, the South Asian island destination will not require healthy visitors to quarantine. They won’t need to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test upon arrival. Visas will be free, on arrival, and there will be no compulsory quarantine. The requirements include that the visitors must have a confirmed booking at a property registered with the Ministry of Tourism prior to travel. And most importantly, they will need to complete a health declaration card on their flight. (Source: Travel Pulse)

Maldives
The Maldives

But the government is treading with caution as it sets the tone for its “new normal,” looking to assure high-spending tourists a healthy holiday in the country of 1,190 islands. “This includes health screening on arrival [and] physical distancing at ports, vessels and tourist facilities,” a senior official from the president’s office told the Nikkei Asian Review. “Visitors will be asked to report any symptoms while they are in the Maldives.” (Source: Nikkei Asian Review)

Reports suggest that at least 10 international airlines are lining up to resume flights to Velana International Airport. It is the country’s international gateway. The flights will operate as the South Asian archipelago reopens for foreign holidaymakers on July 15. These include Asian carriers SriLankan Airlines and Singapore Airlines along with Middle Eastern carriers Emirates and Qatar Airways, according to travel industry sources. (Source: Nikkei Asian Review)

Air bubble with India

India is considering establishing an air bubble or air travel bridge to the Maldives. The group of islands shall reopen after a four-month shut down due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Maldives government has made a formal request in this regard to New Delhi. And an agreement may be reached in the next two or three days, The Indian Express learnt.

The economy of the Maldives, located to the southwest of India in the Indian Ocean, is almost entirely driven by tourism, which makes up 70 per cent of its GDP. The air bubble, officials said, would be a “special gesture” to a country with which India has had traditionally warm ties, but where in recent years, it has had to contend with growing Chinese influence. (Source: The Indian Express)

The Maldives as a Destination

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The Maldives is a picture-perfect archipelago, situated in the middle of the Indian Ocean, and home to 1,190+ tiny coral islands. The country is famous for the beauty it carries and is celebrated as one of the best travel destinations in the world. The Maldives epitomises luxury and romance at its best. However, there are so many things that tourists can do which do not fit into these two categories. If you are looking to travel on a budget or simply go backpacking – or island hopping as they call it – there are so many.

If you come up COVID positive, as a traveller, the resorts will still take care of you. With attention from a medical team as you isolate in your villa, Soneva shall waive the daily room rate for the next 14 days. If any guest needs to be hospitalized, the Maldives has built up sufficient hospital and medical capacity. This is to treat Covid-19 effectively, the website says. Noting that the hospital on a neighbouring island, only 10 minutes away by speedboat, has a new ICU unit with 20 beds. (Source: Bloomberg)

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