68.7 percent of resort workers receive booster shots against Covid-19

The Ministry of Tourism has revealed that 68.7 percent of resort workers have received their booster shots against Covid-19.

The ministry revealed this through its latest weekly figures, which highlight that the percentage of resort workers to have received booster doses, had been pushed to 68.7 percent by March 24.

Statistics also showed that 97.5 percent of individuals employed in resorts of the Maldives tourism industry were fully vaccinated against coronavirus by March 24.

In addition to this, 99.9 percent of resort workers have received first doses of Covid-19 vaccination so far.

The booster doses were rolled out for tourism sector frontliners in association with the Health Protection Agency (HPA) very recently.

Authorities launched the Covid-19 inoculation drive for tourism industry workers on 4 February 2021.

Priority is given to vaccinate tourism sector employees who come in close contact with tourists, such as those working on liveaboard vessels, guesthouse employees and those performing guest service roles at various tourist establishments.

The ministry also launched the "I'm Vaccinated" campaign with an aim to share a positive message regarding vaccinations of staff employed in the industry as well as promoting initiatives taken to ensure the Maldives remains one of the safest travel destinations.

The ministry aims to make Maldives the first fully-vaccinated tourism sector globally. The stringent health and safety guidelines currently in place will pave way for this target to be reached, in addition to the added advantage of Maldives' unique formation which ensures social distancing.

The Maldives has been making steady efforts to resuscitate tourism across the island nation, and began a large-scale Covid-19 vaccination programme for airport workers and tourism sector employees as well.

Maldives tourism took a hard hit due to the pandemic and the tourism-revival journey was slow into the beginning since borders reopened on 15 July 2020.

Vaccination figures nationwide have begun increasing at a time the Health Protection Agency (HPA) is also administering booster doses for all.