Nine more facilities resume services to tourists across Maldives

Nine more facilities have resumed services to tourists across the Maldives.

The latest weekly statistics publicized by the Ministry of Tourism reveal that the nine more tourist facilities that reopened doors to tourists across the Maldives included five guesthouses, two hotels and two liveaboard vessels.

As such, the five guesthouses that resumed operations between February 2 - 9 are one in Kelaa island of Haa Alif atoll, two in Kaafu atoll including one in Guraidhoo and one in the Greater Malé Region, as well as two in Fuvahmulah City.

The total operational capacity of tourist accommodation establishments across Maldives has risen to 950 with this development, including 162 resorts, 640 guesthouses, 12 hotels and 148 liveaboard vessels.

The number of operational beds increased to 54,138 as well, of which 38,822 are in resorts, 1,424 are in hotels, 10,980 are in guesthouses and 2,912 are in safari vessels.

Maldives currently has a capacity of 1,167 tourist facilities which include 153 safari vessels, 847 hotels and guesthouses and 167 resorts. This means that of the total facility-capacity, five safari vessels, five resorts, 207 guesthouses and hotels are yet to resume operations.

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.

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.