Over 250 guesthouses across the Maldives were in operation by the time the island nation was greeted by the new year, 2021.
According to the latest statistics publicized by the Ministry of Tourism on the first day of the new year, a total of 257 guesthouses were in operation across 39 islands of 12 atolls, by the end of 2020.
Number of guesthouses operating across islands are:
- 26 in six islands of Alif Dhaal atoll,
- 21 in three islands of Vaavu atoll,
- One in Thaa atoll,
- One in Laamu atoll,
- Two in two islands of Gaaf Dhaal atoll,
- One in Gnaviyani atoll,
- Five in three islands of Seenu atoll,
- Five in two islands of Haa Alif atoll,
- One in Noonu atoll,
- 11 in five islands of Baa atoll,
- 118 in nine islands of Kaafu atoll,
- 57 in six islands of Alif Alif atoll.
By December 31, a total of 41,854 beds were being operated in 543 tourist facilities, out of which 31,792 are in 142 resorts, 1,458 are in 11 hotels, 2,576 in 133 liveaboard vessels and 5,028 operational beds in 257 guesthouses.
Maldives responded to the escalating situation of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic by halting the issuance of on-arrival visas, on March 27, and nearly four months later, reopened borders for international travel on July 15. The first tourist establishments given the green light to begin operations were resorts and liveaboard vessels.
Guesthouses outside of the Greater Malé Region were given the green light to resume operations on October 15, after which authorities noted that guesthouses in the capital region will be allowed to reopen after Covid-19 cases start to simmer down. After a positive result in maintaining the daily increase in Covid-19 cases, authorities allowed the reopening of guesthouses in the capital region on December 14.
Maldives recorded a total of 172,366 tourist arrivals from the date of border reopening till December 31.
