Ministry of Tourism has allowed an additional seven resorts to resume operations this month.

While a total of 132 resorts have now been approved to restart operations since borders were reopened in July, the seven resorts given the greenlight to restart operations on Tuesday are; Sandies Bathala Maldives, Dhigali Maldives, Diamonds Thudufushi Beach and Water Villas, Rahaa Resort, Filitheyo Island Resort, Kihaa Maldives and Brennia Kottefaru.

Two more resorts, Club Med Kanifinolhu and Makunudhoo Island, are to be allowed to resume operations later this month.

Further, eight more guesthouses were given the go-ahead to begin operations in December.

With this, a total of 37,013 tourist beds will be in operation by the end of the year.

A total of 376 tourist establishments were allowed to restart operations by the end of November.

While Maldives, as many other nations, was forced to close border following the Covid-19 pandemic, on March 27, they were reopened on July 15. 1,701 tourists visited the island within the first 15 days of border reopening.

7,628 tourists arrived the following month and 9,538 in September, while 21,515 arrivals were recorded in October as well as 35,759 in November.

While an average of 1,190 tourists visited per day was seen in November, a total of 2,081 tourists visited the island nation on the first day of the ongoing month.

78,172 tourists have visited in the island nation from July 15 to December 1, while a total of 461,019 arrivals were recorded throughout the year; this means that 382,847 of the arrivals were recorded prior to border closure in March.