President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has visited Velana International Airport (VIA) to check ongoing preparations to safely reopen the Maldivian borders on July 15.
President Solih was accompanied in the visit by relevant cabinet ministers and institutional representatives. The president checked on the progress of preparations inside the main international gateway of the Maldives, as the country looks to reopen borders after nearly 4 months. Airport management briefed the president on the measures in place to screen passengers for COVID-19 symptoms, as well as on their testing capacity, and protocols in place to ensure social distancing and good hygiene.
After consulting with the cabinet, health authorities and tourism stakeholders, President Solih declared July 15 is an appropriate date to allow tourists back into the country, with strict precautions and safety protocols in place to protect tourists and residents from COVID-19. Accordingly, the administration has prepared comprehensive safety measures to be enforced at ports and guest facilities to protect visitors and residents from COVID-19.