The total number of tourist accommodation establishments operational across Maldives, has risen to 970.

The latest weekly statistics publicized by the Ministry of Tourism on Friday revealed that the total operational capacity of tourist accommodation establishments across Maldives has risen to 970 with three more facilities having resumed services to tourists over the past week.

The operational capacity includes 164 resorts and marinas, 644 guesthouses, one homestay facility, 11 hotels and 150 liveaboard vessels.

The number of operational beds increased to 54,661 as well, of which 39,064 are in resorts, 1,418 are in hotels, 11,220 are in guesthouses and 2,953 are in safari vessels.

Maldives currently has a capacity of 1,171 tourist facilities which include 152 safari vessels, 837 guesthouses, 12 hotels, one homestay facility and 169 resorts. This means that of the total facility-capacity, two safari vessels, five resorts, one hotel and 193 guesthouses 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.