A circular publicized by the Ministry of Tourism announced that resort employees are now required to undergo a mandatory 10-day quarantine period when traveling between resorts, even if the resorts are operated under the same management or company.
Additionally, resort workers are not permitted to work unless they test negative in PCR tests upon completion of the quarantine. The new quarantine guidelines are established to battle the increasing number of COVID-19 positive cases being reported in operational resorts.
Up until now, resort workers were not required to quarantine when traveling between resorts under the same management, resulting in the formation of COVID-19 clusters. The Tourism Ministry states that most of the new cases being reported in resorts are from resort employees and that stricter quarantine protocols would help efforts to resolve the situation.
The Ministry also applauds the invaluable efforts of resort and tourist establishment workers despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19. Furthermore, the Ministry highlights that the workers play a critical role in reviving the tourism industry after months of economic hardship and struggle.
After a temporary border closure to mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Maldives recommenced inbound tourism for all nationalities from 15th July 2020. All visitors are granted a 30-day free on-arrival visa with a confirmed booking for a stay at any registered tourist facility in the country.
Maldives has also extended ‘Split Stay’ for all types of tourist accommodation facilities, allowing tourists to split their stay between resort, hotels, guesthouses and liveaboard boats, with prior approval as per split-stay procedure and guideline by the Ministry of Tourism.
While there is no mandatory quarantine or testing on arrival, tourists traveling to Maldives are required to complete an online health declaration form and provide a negative PCR test result taken at least 96 hours prior to their departure.
The negative PCR test result must be attached while completing the Traveler Health Declaration form, which has to be submitted online via IMUGA (www.imuga.immigration.gov.mv), by all arriving passengers before arrival (but not exceeding 24 hours before arrival time).
