President warns action will be taken against tourist facilities that violate COVID-19 regulations

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has warned action will be taken against guesthouses and other tourist facilities that fail to adhere to the regulations and guidelines imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the Maldives.

Speaking at the ceremony held to inaugurate the harbour of Omadhoo, Thaa Atoll, President Solih revealed that the government had initiated an inspection programme of guesthouses and tour operations to ensure that tourists who choose to transit in the Maldives are being treated fairly and that the mandated COVID-19 control measures were being implemented strictly. The president said it would be a tremendous setback to lose control of COVID-19 in the Maldives again. He called on all guesthouse owners and tour agents to strictly maintain COVID-19 control measures and take all necessary precautions to prevent community spread.

President Solih also spoke on the state of the Maldives' economy following the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent preventative measures. He stated the government's efforts had successfully curbed the spread of COVID-19 in the Maldives, however, the economic loss suffered was dire. He noted as the Maldives' borders reopened, some of the neighbours are using the country as a safe transit zone, staying in guesthouses and enriching local economies, adding this momentum can only be continued by being cautious.

As per the guidelines of Health Protection Agency (HPA), tourists visiting guesthouses and hotels in inhabited islands and regions of the Maldives are required to complete the full dosage of a COVID-19 vaccine authorised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) or the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA). However, an exception is provided if travelling to an island where 60% of the population has been fully vaccinated.