MALE, June 24 (NNN-PSM) – The Maldives will reopen its borders to tourists next month, President Ibrahim Solih was cited as saying.
President Solih told a press conference that, Maldives’ borders and resorts will reopen on July 15, while congregational prayers, schools and dine-in at restaurants and cafes will also resume in the same month.
Maldives successfully contained the COVID-19 and has been cited as a safe destination by tourist markets in Germany and the UAE, he said.
Solih expressed hope that the reopening of the country’s tourism, which contributes 28 percent of GDP, will help the economy recover from a two-month lock-down, which brought business to a standstill.
Maldives imposed restrictions on passengers coming from or transiting through countries in early Mar. On Mar 27, issuing of visas was halted.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenge to the world, including developed countries, but Maldives has been relatively successful in keeping confirmed cases below initial projections by health authorities.
The country maintained a high testing rate, relative to its population and plans to increase testing facilities further, he added.
Solih thanked front-line health workers for their role in containing the pandemic, and private resort operators for offering their properties to be used as isolation facilities and intensive care units.
Maldives has 2,217 confirmed cases, out of which 1,813 patients made full recoveries and eight have died, according to the Health Protection Agency. The country has a recovery rate of 81.8 percent and a mortality rate of 0.4 percent.– NNN-PSM
