Guesthouses to resume operations on October 15

The government is to permit guesthouses across the island nation to reopen for tourists on October 15.

The Ministry of Tourism made the announcement via Twitter on Tuesday, noting that issuing permits to guesthouses to begin operating once more will be based on consent from the island’s council as well as the guidelines set by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) and the Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC).

Further details and information are to be shared via a press conference scheduled by the ministry for Wednesday.

This comes at a time newly-appointed Minister of Tourism, Dr. Abdulla Mausoom has also revealed that the government believes it is time to permit guesthouses to operate across the country.

As such, speaking on RaajjeTV’s ‘Fala Surukhee’ programme, the minister noted that it is concerning that guesthouse businesses are currently at a standstill, highlighting the importance of the guesthouse business for Maldives’ tourism.

On July 15, the government reopened borders for international travel after over three months since borders were closed on March 27. The president announced during June that tourist resorts and liveaboard vessels would resume operations in July while guesthouses would remain closed until August. Later on, the government decided to extend the reopening of guesthouses, following an alarming surge in daily Covid-19 cases being reported of recent.