Tourism Minister Ali Waheed says in the best-case scenario in the fight against Covid-19, the country would be able to welcome back tourists this July.

Updating the media earlier today, Tourism Minister said officials have come up with forecast to determine when the country can overcome the lockdown situation and open its doors for tourism again. He said in this forecast, the best case scenario showed that the tourism industry could get back to its feet this July.

He said in the moderate case scenario authorities would assess how the virus will spread in the country and ease back tourism once the outbreak is under control in October.

Minister Waheed said the ministry was researching how the Maldivian economy can adapt to the ‘new normal’ and also guidelines regarding the re-opening of the tourism sector.

He said this would be presented to the Presented in the form of a paper and the paper would be shared with the industry along with the President’s recommendation.

He added that the public, tourism industry, and the government would share the decision on how to allow back tourists to the country.

Minister said the government would heed the recommendations from the foreign doctors and experts currently in the country to help overcome the Covid-19 crisis and will move to the ‘new normal’.