Having practised Covid-safe management policies since July 15, destination will get headstart when borders fully open.

THE Maldives is betting that its own vaccination programme, the earlier-than-expected global vaccine rollout and the effectiveness of its Covid-safe management policies will stand it in good stead to achieve tourism recovery by the middle of the year and maybe even exceed 2019 levels of 1.7m arrivals and 10.7m bed nights.

On February 1, President Ibrahim Solih, who was among the first people to receive the Covishield vaccine based on the AstraZeneca formula, said it planned to vaccinate its population of 540,000 within six months. The tourism sector will receive first priority, along with healthcare. The announcement by the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson that Britons would be allowed to travel for holidays by May 17 further boosted the island’s confidence.

“Many of the resorts had their best ever December in history …” reveals Dr. Abdulla Mausoom.

Minister of Tourism Dr. Abdulla Mausoom said since it opened for tourism on July 15 it’s been revising its targets upwards. “We are optimistic because the vaccine rollout came earlier than expected as well as based on the demand that we have. Many of the resorts had their best ever December in history, many markets rebounded, beating pre-Covid levels.

“We are 40% below pre-Covid levels because markets like China, Korea, Japan and Singapore – more than 40% of the market – remain closed. If travel starts from these countries, then we will be in total recovery.”

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