29 guesthouses in residential islands authorized to reopen

Tourists wave as they are taken to a guesthouse in A. A. Thoddoo.

Tourism Ministry announced it has authorized 29 guesthouses located in residential islands of Maldives to reopen for international tourists.

Tourism Ministry began authorizing guesthouses located in residential islands outside of the greater Male’ region to reopen on October 15.

According to records released by the Tourism Ministry, 29 guesthouses located in N. Atoll, K. Atoll, A. A. Atoll, and V. Atoll have been authorized to reopen so far.

The islands authorized to reopen guesthouses:

N. Fodhdhoo
K. Huraa
K. Maafushi
V. Fulidhoo
V. Thinadhoo
A. A. Mathiveri
A. A. Thoddoo
A. A. Ukulhas

Guesthouses in residential islands outside greater Male’ region are being permitted to reopen after a seven month closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The guesthouses, as well as the islands where they are situated, are required to fulfill specific requirements before they can be authorized to reopen.

As such, guesthouses are required to have a COVID-19 safe plan in place before they can be authorized to reopen. Once a guesthouse shares the plan with the Tourism Ministry, the Tourism Ministry will review the plan and grant permission after the local council of the island where the guesthouse is located visits the property to ensure that arrangements have been made in accordance with the plan, and that all health and safety requirements have been met.

Each guesthouse is required to establish a focal point, and to have rooms designated for quarantine and isolation.

Maldives has more than 10,000 tourist beds in guesthouses across 86 islands, and 10 percent of tourist arrivals to Maldives stay in guesthouses.

The guesthouse business is linked to the income and livelihood of more than 6,000 Maldivians.

Maldives is currently open to all tourists, provided they have proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken maximum 96 hours before departure from their original destination.