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The Maldives is set to reopen to visitors in July

Pexels
Pexels

Tourism hotspot and popular honeymoon destination The Maldives is set to reopen to international travellers next month.

The tourism board has announced a phased reopening which expects incoming flights to its main airport to recommence from July, although those with private jets or yachts can already visit the island nation.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Tourism said it will open its borders in July 2020 and that guests would not be charged any additional fees, after an earlier proposal suggested there would be landing fees and extra tourist charges,

The government will issue a ‘Safe Tourism License’ to tourist facilities to ensure safety of both workers and holidaymakers which includes having personal protection equipment as well as having a certified doctor on call.

The new proposal says that any incoming international travellers will need to have a confirmed booking with a hotel that has a Safe Tourism License. Travellers will also be required to provide a medical certificate confirming they tested negative for COVID-19 at least 14 days before they arrive.

In 2019, The Maldives welcomed 1.7 million visitors and it was expected to jump to 2 million this year - but the impact the virus has had on the tourism sector has been ‘more devastating than the 2004 tsunami and the 2008 global financial crisis’, Ali Waheed, the minister for tourism said.

Waheed continued: "For the first time in 47 years of tourism in the Maldives, we have experienced zero tourist arrival since this March. We cannot keep our borders closed for long."

The small nation has had just 1,841 confirmed cases and seven deaths.

It’s not the only beach destination looking to reopen this summer - Portugal has confirmed it is in talks with the UK over a possible air bridge between the nations, allowing quarantine-free travel, and suggests it could be in place by the end of June.