94 percent of resorts will resume operations by October: MMPRC

94 percent of tourist resorts operating in the Maldives will resume operations by October, says the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC).

Over 100 resorts have been granted the approval to resume operations since border reopening, revealed the Ministry of Tourism.

According to the statistics released by the ministry, a total of 104 resorts were given the green light to resume operations since the country reopened borders for international travel on July 15, a little over three months since borders were closed on March 27.

By September 15, 73 resorts were granted approval to reopen and one resort will resume operations on the 28th of this month, followed by 18 resorts which will begin operating on October 1.

In an interview with the United Kingdom’s Globe Traders MMPRC’s Managing Director Thoyyib Mohamed revealed that 43 resorts are currently operating and that this is being done in accordance with the safe tourism guidelines.

He added that 103 more resorts will open by November.

As such, 94 percent of tourist resorts will begin operations within October, which is 146 out of the 156 resorts operating in the island nation, deemed a tropical paradise by zealous travelers worldwide.

As part of the easing plan, resorts and liveaboard vessels were given the green light to resume operations in July, and guesthouses in residential islands outside of the greater Male’ region are scheduled to reopen on October 15.

Tourism contributes over a quarter of the country’s GDP and is the source of well over two-thirds of foreign currency to the country. Every other job-creating and revenue-generating activity in the country is either directly or indirectly dependent on the tourism industry. The industry came to a complete standstill once borders were closed down and the country saw a major reduction in tourist arrivals despite having aimed to break the tourist arrival record of 2019.