Two more tourist facilities opened doors to visitors over the past week, with which the total operational capacity of tourist facilities has risen to 934.
Latest weekly statistics publicized by the Ministry of Tourism revealed the total operational facilities include 162 resorts, 618 guesthouses, 10 hotels and 144 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, 13 safari vessels, five resorts, 189 guesthouses and hotels are yet to resume operations.
The number of operational beds increased to 53,822 as well, of which 38,822 are in resorts, 1,360 are in hotels, 10,806 are in guesthouses and 2,834 are in safari vessels.
The two tourist facilities that resumed services across the Maldives between January 12 and 19 were one resort and one guesthouse in Dhiggaru island of Meemu atoll. Further operations in one safari vessel were halted temporarily as well.
Guesthouses in operation by January 19 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,
- Four guesthouses in four 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.
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.
