Over 37,000 tourism sector workers vaccinated against Covid-19
22 އެޕްރީލު 2021 | ބުރާސްފަތި 18:38Priority given to those employees who have to work closely with guests
Aerial view of Crossroads Maldives, situated just 15 minutes away from Velana International Airport (VIA) by speedboat and packed with attractions for tourists
Over 37,000 workers employed in the Maldives' tourism industry have received Covid-19 vaccines.
According to information made public by the Ministry of Tourism, a total of 37,886 workers employed in the tourism sector have received their first doses of Covid-19 vaccines since 4 February 2021. Minister of Tourism Dr. Abdulla Mausoom has previously stressed the importance of vaccinating tourism sector employees, especially noting their sacrifices as frontline workers in an industry that is critical to the Maldivian economy.
Priority is being given to vaccinate tourism sector employees who come in close contact with tourists, such as those working on liveaboard vessels, guest house employees and those performing guest service roles at various tourist establishments. As such, 37,134 resort workers, 306 guesthouse employees, 220 persons working on liveaboard vessels and 70 hotel employees have been vaccinated against Covid-19 in the Maldives from the tourism sector by 25 March. In addition to this, 24 employees of travel agencies, 64 artists and 67 Tourism Ministry employees have also been administered their first doses of the Covid-19 vaccines.
While the increase in number of tourist arrivals being reported of late signal that the tourism industry, which was hit hard by Covid-19, is well-positioned to recover from its post-pandemic downturn in the coming months, the Ministry of Tourism is hopeful that the recovery forecast will surpass expectations. Tourism Minister Mausoom has previously noted that the industry is expected to recover and equalize suitably in the upcoming month of July.
The Maldives has been making steady efforts to resuscitate tourism across the island nation, and has begun large-scale Covid-19 vaccination programmes for airport workers and tourism sector employees as well. With strict Covid-19 health and safety regulations and travel restrictions in place, only 0.26 percent of tourists arriving in the Maldives test positive for Covid-19.
A total of 287,171 people have received Covid-19 vaccines in the Maldives by 21 April 2021. Statistics by the Health Protection Agency indicate that over 62,586 people have received two doses of Covid-19 vaccines across the island nation by Wednesday's end.
