Maldives added to UK’s travel red list in blow to tourism

Maldives has been added to the United Kingdom’s travel red list in light of the surge in COVID-19 cases.

The decision to add Maldives, along with Turkey and Nepal to UK’s travel red list of 43 countries was announced by the British Transport Secretary Grant Shapps in a press conference last Friday.

The decision will take effect at 04:00 am on Wednesday, May 12.

Maldivian Foreign Ministry has issued a statement regarding the implications of the decision to Maldivian travers.

Foreign Ministry said that the decision means travelers who have visited or transited in Maldives within 10 days prior to arrival in the UK will be banned from entrance, with the exception British and Irish citizens.

Meanwhile, those with permission to enter UK who have visited or transited in Maldives within 10 days prior to arrival will be required to undergo 10 days of quarantine at a designated facility. They will be tested for COVID-19 on the second and eighth day of the quarantine period.

Foreign Ministry has urged travelers to the UK to be mindful of the new restrictions.

The decision to add Maldives to UK’s travel red list comes as Maldives battles its worst surge of COVID-19 cases yet, with the daily case load above 700, and a sharp rise in fatalities.

UK is one of Maldives’ top sources of tourist arrivals. The new restrictions is expected to have a significant impact on tourist arrivals, which had been shown promising signs of recovery since the border shutdown last year.