The Maldives had reopened borders for tourists about 2 months ago, but there was some uncertainty with regards to the SOPs. The Maldivian government has now made it mandatory to produce a Covid Negative Certificate on arrival. Irrespective of whether you have been diagnosed before or are asymptomatic, a COVID negative certificate on arrival is a must. Although you will have to submit it on the online portal, an official will be stationed at the airport to review the same.

According to a recent Press Release, the Maldives has achieved the Safe Travel Stamp from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) if a COVID negative certificate is produced.

Press Release (PR)88-B/88/2020/53 Maldives achieves the safe travels stamp pic.twitter.com/ciTdaHp2sO

— Ministry of Tourism (@MoTmv) September 15, 2020

What is the process?

While submitting your certificate, you will have to ensure that the test is taken 72 hours prior to arrival for it to be valid. According to Tourism Minister Dr Abdulla Mausoom, all other SOPs will be the same as before and plenty of safety precautions will be taken. Considering that the Maldives is dependent largely on tourism for its economy, multiple steps are being taken to keep it up and running. The negative PCR test certificate will have to be submitted through the online immigration portal, ‘Imuga.’ An official from the Maldivian government will be present at the airport checkpoints to ensure the authenticity of the details.

For the safety of all, HPA Maldives has made it mandatory, with effect from 10th September, for all tourists and short term visitors to present a Negative PCR certificate on arrival in #Maldives #VisitMaldives

— Ministry of Tourism (@MoTmv) September 1, 2020

Why is the Maldives safer compared to other destinations?

The Maldives is undoubtedly one of the safest destinations that you can pick for post-pandemic travel. For the most part, the entire archipelago is split into different islands which consist of only one resort each. This will be much safer as commute will be restricted and personal contact can also be avoided. Even though the cases have been constantly rising since the borders had reopened, the government is ensuring that resorts follow all safety norms. One of the major SOPs that has to be followed is the presence of trained medical professionals capable of collecting COVID-19 samples in every resort.

Also read: Top Islands In Maldives – Experience the untouched serenity

The impact

Considering that resorts are located on different islands, island hopping was restricted for the past two months for safety reasons. This ban has also been lifted to ensure that small-time guest houses and hotels are able to revive themselves. Although safety and security are of prime importance, the pandemic has heavily hit the tourism industry of the Maldives. According to a recent report by the World Bank, the Maldives is one of the worst affected Southeast Asian countries due to the pandemic. The economy has hit a new low ever since the month of April and the government is making all efforts to ensure that the economy does not sink completely.

Also read: Best time of year to go to Maldives

Now that we have learnt about the safety precautions that the Maldives is taking to ensure your tourism flourishes, safe vacations are definitely the new normal. Travel is boundless and it has been proven time and again. With appropriate safety measures like procuring a COVID negative certificate before travelling and maintaining social distancing, your dream vacation can soon become a reality. Well, what are you waiting for? Check out some unmissable Maldives packages for a surreal getaway offered by Pickyourtrail. Be the first one to flaunt your post-pandemic travel and quench your wanderlust!

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