Tourism Minister Dr. Abdullah Mausoom has called on the nation to come together and unite to achieve the expected returns as the country prepares to open its guesthouses in islands outside of the Greater Male’ Area.
In a tweet, the Minister said that when the guesthouses reopen on the 15th of this month, the foundation to achieving the expected revenues is working in a united and responsible manner.
He said that it can be achieved by putting tourism first and to continue the country’s tireless efforts to further preventing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although guest houses in the islands outside of the Greater Male’ Area are set to resume operations in the middle of the month, Health Protection Agency HPA had said that those traveling from islands with guesthouses should be quarantined for 14-days.
The Minister had said that all the hotels, guesthouses, and tourist facilities in the Greater Male’ Area of Male’, Hulhumale’ and Villimale would resume their operations in the first few weeks of November.
Detailing the conditions for their reopening, Dr. Mausoom said the number of COVID-19 cases reported daily must drop to below 5 percent for two consecutive weeks before guesthouses are allowed to resume operations.
Last night, HPA had reported that 60 of the 66 COVID-19 cases reported in the country yesterday were from the Greater Male’ Area. Meanwhile, it said that that 21 inhabited islands in the country have 147 active cases of COVID-19 and that currently, no island is under monitoring. It also said that 19 resorts have active cases of the pandemic including 10 tourists and 16 staff.
The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed 34 lives here in the Maldives including 28 locals and 6 foreigners.
