99 percent of resort workers receive first doses of Covid-19 vaccination
Priority is being given to vaccinate tourism sector employees who come in close contact with tourists
Priority is being given to vaccinate tourism sector employees who come in close contact with tourists
99 percent of resort employees have received first doses of the vaccination against Covid-19.
The Ministry of Tourism, through its latest figures, revealed that 93 percent of individuals employed in resorts of the Maldives tourism industry have been fully vaccinated against coronavirus by September 8, whereas 99 percent have received first jabs.
Vaccination figures nationwide began increasing at a time the Health Protection Agency (HPA) announced plans to halt the administration of first doses, by the beginning of September. So far, 310,592 persons have been fully vaccinated nationwide, with the number of persons to have received first doses sitting at 387,195.
Authorities launched the Covid-19 inoculation drive for tourism industry workers on February 4 this year. Priority is given to vaccinate tourism sector employees who come in close contact with tourists, such as those working on liveaboard vessels, guesthouse employees and those performing guest service roles at various tourist establishments.
The Maldives has been making steady efforts to resuscitate tourism across the island nation, and began a large-scale Covid-19 vaccination programme for airport workers and tourism sector employees as well.
The ministry revealed that 0.19 percent of tourists that arrived in the Maldives between 15 July – 31 December 2020 had tested positive for the virus, whereas the positivity rate among tourists between 1 January – 8 September 2021 was at 0.22 percent.
Earlier the ministry launched the "I'm Vaccinated" campaign with an aim to share a positive message regarding vaccinations of staff employed in the industry as well as promoting initiatives taken to ensure the Maldives remains one of the safest travel destinations.
The ministry aims to make Maldives the first fully-vaccinated tourism sector globally. The stringent health and safety guidelines currently in place will pave way for this target to be reached, in addition to the added advantage of Maldives' unique formation which ensures social distancing.
At a time the ministry had asserted that the tourism industry would recover and equalize suitably during July, tourist arrivals being reported so far this ongoing year have been steadily increasing, with daily arrival figures above 4,000 so far this ongoing month.
Maldives tourism took a hard hit due to the pandemic and the tourism-revival journey was slow into the beginning since borders reopened on 15 July 2020.
