Operational tourist facilities across Maldives rise to 952

The total operational capacity of tourist facilities across Maldives has risen to 952.

The latest weekly statistics publicized by the Ministry of Tourism reveal that the two more tourist facilities that reopened doors to tourists across the Maldives were both guesthouses.

As such, one guesthouse in Thoddoo island of Alif Alif resumed services to tourists with one reopening anew in Buruni island of Thaa atoll. The island marked the arrival of the first couple of tourists to the island’s first ever guesthouse back in January.

The total operational capacity of tourist accommodation establishments across Maldives has risen to 952 with this development, including 162 resorts, 630 guesthouses, 12 hotels and 148 liveaboard vessels.

The number of operational beds increased to 54,154 as well, of which 38,822 are in resorts, 1,916 are in hotels, 10,996 are in guesthouses and 1,418 are in safari vessels.

Maldives currently has a capacity of 1,166 tourist facilities which include 152 safari vessels, 847 hotels and guesthouses and 167 resorts. This means that of the total facility-capacity, four safari vessels, five resorts, 205 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.