Maldives Minister of Finance Ibrahim Ameer on Friday confirmed the tourist arrivals to the country will observe a 50 percent decline in July 2020.
Minister Ameer made the alarming statement during Friday's press conference at the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) situated in Dharubaaruge convention center.
In his explanation, Minister Ameer focused on the border closing experienced worldwide in light of the viral COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. This resulted in many global countries temporarily restricting all international flight operations, dropping the traveler figure significantly.
The global aviation industry is current experiencing a limbo amid the crisis; which will further dent on the economic activity of the world.
The Minister of Finance had further highlighted the island nation's prime economic component is the tourism sector, which has come to a complete standstill in light of the adverse effects of the pandemic.
Tourist arrivals to Maldives declined by 1.11 percent in February 2020 compared to the corresponding month in 2019.
In March of the current year, tourist arrivals saw a harrowing drop of 63 percent as confirmed by the Maldives Minister of Finance.
He further commented on five-case scenarios with regards to tourist arrivals in Maldives during the current year.
Minister Ameer had commented, Maldives will likely experience outcomes of the scenario-3; in which state estimates a tourist arrival drop by 50 percent and bed-nights decline by 39 percent.
Moreover, under the scenario on-arrival visas will not be issued during July as well and by the said period the island nation will not experience any tourist arrivals.
Government further estimated a three-month recovery period after recommencement of on-arrival visas, while tourist markets on which travel restrictions were imposed will experience 97 percent drops in recovery.
