The Maldives has welcomed its 100,000th visitor since the island nation reopened its border back in July after closing its doors earlier this year to combat the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The Tourism Ministry said that a grand event was held today at Velana International Airport, to welcome the 100,000th tourist who visited the country since mid-July.
The Ministry also said that the 100,000th tourist was identified by the Ministry of Tourism, together with Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), Maldives Immigration and Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL).
It revealed that the 100,000th tourist, Jasmin Burki arrived from Switzerland via Emirates.
On arrival, she was escorted outside by officials of MMPRC and Maldives Immigration, and greeted by the Deputy Minister of Ministry of Tourism, Managing Director of MMPRC, Controller General of Immigration, and CEO and Managing Director of MACL.
The Controller General of Immigration, Mohamed Ahmed Hussain, also handed over a special gift to her:
Due to the ongoing global pandemic, Maldives had to close its borders on the 27th of March bringing the country's main economic contributor, the tourism industry to a grinding halt.
After four months of border closure, the tourism industry reopened on 15th July with enhanced precautionary measures against COVID-19.
Since the reopening, there has been a gradual increase in tourist arrivals with the establishment of travel bubbles between the Maldives and other countries, as well as a greater connectivity in terms of flight operations.
Over 18 airlines are currently traveling to and from Maldives, from all around the globe.
On 6th December, Maldives broke the record of daily arrivals since the reopening which was a total of 3,006 tourists, whereas the air traffic movement on this date was 352.
