MALE: Indians emerge as biggest international tourists in Maldives

MALE:
Vacation-deprived wealthy Indians flocked the shores of Maldives — one of the
few countries open to international tourists during the Covid pandemic — more
than any other nationalities last year. The Indian high commission in Maldives
Monday tweeted that India was the “top source market for Maldives tourism in
2020 (with) 62,905 tourist arrivals (accounting for) 11.3% of (total) market
share.”

Five Indian cities have flights to Male with five airlines operating there
under the air bubble formed between the two countries

Maldives had allowed international tourists from July 15, 2020, with free
visa-on-arrival. The archipelago does not have mandatory quarantine or testing
on arrival for foreign tourists.

“All tourists are required to submit an online health declaration form within
24 hours prior to departure… All tourists are required to hold a negative PCR
test for Covid-19 conducted 96 hours prior the scheduled time of departure from
the first port of embarkation enroute to Maldives,” says the website of
Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), the national
tourism office of the Maldives.

“Based on the arrival figures of 2019, India is ranked in the second position
of the highest performing markets to the Maldives. It is one of the key focused
markets after the reopening of borders on 15th July 2020,” the MMPRC website
says.

“All tourists are granted a 30-day free visa upon arrival. Quarantine upon
arrival is not required. However, if the passenger has a fever, cough or
shortness of breath on board the flight or upon arrival, it should be informed
to the local health protection agency. All tourists must undergo thermal screening
at the arrival terminal (and) wear masks,” it adds.