Operational capacity for beds across tourist facilities increase

The total operational capacity for beds across tourist accommodation establishments across Maldives, has increased.

The latest weekly statistics publicized by the Ministry of Tourism reveal that a total of 903 facilities are currently operational nationwide, of which 160 are resorts, 589 are guesthouses, 10 are hotels and 144 are liveaboard vessels. This means that no additional tourist facilities resumed operations between November 3 – November 10.

However, the number of operational beds increased to 51,830 from 51,812. Of these, 37,352 are in resorts, 11,632 are in hotels and guesthouses and 2,846 are in safari vessels.

Maldives has a capacity of 1,109 tourist facilities which include 157 safari vessels, 784 hotels and guesthouses and 168 resorts. This means that of the total facility-capacity, 13 safari vessels, eight resorts, 185 guesthouses and hotels are yet to resume operations.

Tourists who have not completed the Covid-19 vaccination will be barred from checking into guesthouses established in residential islands, according to a publication by the Maldives Health Protection Agency (HPA). As such, only those who have passed the limit of 14 days after completing both doses of the vaccine can check in to local guesthouses.

Maldives reopened borders on 15 July 2020, nearly four months since borders were closed and at first, resorts and liveaboard vessels were given the green light to begin operations. Guesthouses outside of the Greater Malé Region were permitted to resume operations on 15 October 2020. Authorities allowed the reopening of guesthouses in the capital region on 14 December 2020.