Four more guesthouses have opened doors to tourists across the Maldives.
Latest weekly statistics publicized by the Ministry of Tourism revealed that the total operational capacity of tourist facilities rose to 934 over the past week, including 161 resorts, 618 guesthouses, 10 hotels and 145 liveaboard vessels.
Maldives currently has a capacity of 1,141 tourist facilities which include 157 safari vessels, 817 hotels and guesthouses and 167 resorts. This means that of the total facility-capacity, 12 safari vessels, six resorts, 190 guesthouses and hotels are yet to resume operations.
The number of operational beds increased to 53,250 as well, of which 38,226 are in resorts, 1,360 are in hotels, 10,800 are in guesthouses and 2,858 are in safari vessels.
The four guesthouses that resumed services across the Maldives were one in Haa Alif atoll, one in Baa atoll, one in Kaafu atoll and one in Vaavu atoll.
Guesthouses in operation by January 12 are:
- 12 guesthouses in three islands of Haa Alif atoll,
- Eight guesthouses in three islands of Haa Dhaal atoll,
- Three guesthouses in three islands of Shaviyani atoll,
- Six guesthouses in three islands of Noonu atoll,
- Two guesthouses in two islands of Raa atoll,
- 40 guesthouses in 12 islands of Baa atoll,
- Four guesthouses in four islands of Lhaviyani atoll,
- 239 guesthouses in 10 islands of Kaafu atoll,
- 120 guesthouses in eight islands of Alif Alif atoll,
- 70 guesthouses in nine islands of Alif Dhaal atoll,
- 50 guesthouses in five islands of Vaavu atoll,
- Three guesthouses in three islands of Meemu atoll,
- Seven guesthouses in two islands of Faafu atoll,
- Four guesthouses in four islands of Dhaalu atoll,
- Four guesthouses in three islands of Thaa atoll,
- Three guesthouses in one island of Laamu atoll,
- Six guesthouses in five islands of Gaaf Alif atoll,
- Six guesthouses in four islands of Gaaf Dhaal atoll,
- 17 guesthouses in Fuvahmulah City,
- 13 guesthouses in five districts of Seenu atoll.
The ministry on January 1 facilitated the introduction of Homestay in the Maldives as well, with the first of its kind launched in Dhiggaru island of Meemu atoll. This comes under the president’s tourism development vision and policy to make tourism and its benefits to the island communities, accessible.
The first tourists under the homestay concept were welcomed to “Moorithi” guesthouse in Dhiggaru, by Minister of Tourism Dr. Abdulla Mausoom, MP for Dhiggaru constituency Ikram Hassan, President of the Island Council Ahmed Nishan, Atoll Council President Ahmed Nimal, President of the Guesthouse Association of Maldives Abdulla Nasheed, President of the Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators Abdulla Suood and the Managing Director of FENAKA Corporation Ahmed Saeed Mohamed as well as senior officials at the tourism ministry.
Nearly four months since borders were closed, Maldives reopened borders on 15 July 2020 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.
