National taskforce to bring changes to proposed safe tourism guidelines

Plans to reopen borders in July were discussed at the second meeting of the National Taskforce on Resilience Building and Economic Recovery, including the Ministry of Tourism’s prepared guidelines.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and members of the taskforce met at the President’s Office on Thursday, where “the necessity of ensuring the health, safety and security of visitors, Maldivian citizens, and resident expatriates, as borders are reopened” was a constant theme.

The president first announced plans to reopen borders during a televised national address on May 20, “in light of the Maldives’ continuing successes in bringing Covid-19 under control, and the necessity of reviving the national economy”.

While tourism is Maldives’ most important economic sector, the ministry presented its safe tourism guidelines to the taskforce on Wednesday. The guidelines were established as part of the work to restart this industry in a safe manner that will not compromise the gains the country has made in the fight against the virus.

As announced at the first meeting, the provisions of the guidelines were discussed in greater depth at Thursday’s meeting. Members of the three working groups comprising the Taskforce – the working group on finance, the working group on economic recovery, and the working group on the social sector – gave their input to the president regarding the proposals. President’s Office said that discussions at the meeting included ensuring testing-capacity, putting in place precautionary social-distancing and isolation measures at resorts, and general safety measures tourists and resort-staff should follow

The taskforce collectively agreed to bring some changes to the proposed guidelines.