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Already open to travellers, the Maldives is continuing to ease restrictions and quarantine for inbound travellers, to welcome more tourists safely back to the destination.

With 91% of the country’s resort employees fully vaccinated (and 97% having had their first vaccine dose), Maldives continues to be one of the world’s safest destinations. As well as a natural ability to help people stay socially distanced and isolated, the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has granted the Maldives their ‘Safe Travels Stamp’ in recognition of the efforts to implement enhanced health and safety measures, in line with the WTTC global safe travels protocols. The major entry point to Maldives, Velana International Airport, has also received the ACI Airport Health Accreditation for consistent measures in line with ACI’s standards in ‘the new normal’.

For travellers hoping to experience the sunny side of life soon, the latest round of updates, and as of 26th of July, outlines that all vaccinated tourists or those who have previously been infected with COVID-19 are able to travel to the Maldives, as long as they can present a negative test result within 72 hours prior to travel, and on arrival at the destination.

Non-intrusive temperature checks and screening on arrival to the Maldives apply to all arrivals, and thanks to the destination’s unique one island, one resort concept, there is no mandatory quarantine on arrival to the Maldives for anyone is not displaying symptoms. Face-masks remain mandatory at the airport, during domestic travel, and in all enclosed public spaces.

Additional options are in place for unvaccinated travellers, with entry permitted dependent upon vaccination levels in country of origin.

With Australia’s vaccination rate creeping towards the goals set to open borders, international travel becoming an increasingly regular part of the pandemic-exit conversation nationally. Australians can start planning a safe and easy trip to the Maldives, with access from various major cities, including Singapore which is being touted as one of the next travel bubbles.

Additional details for all inbound tourists are as follows:

All inbound tourists to Maldives need to hold a negative result for a nucleic acid test (PCR test) for COVID-19 prior to entry into the Maldives, including those who have completed the prescribed doses of COVID-19 vaccines and recovered from a COVID-19 infection. The sample for the PCR test must be taken within 72 hours before departure from the first embarkation point.

Furthermore, the following measures are effective from 26th July 2021 for all inbound tourists while checking in to each one-island, one-resort destination.

  1. Inbound tourists (excluding children and infants who are not eligible for vaccination) must have completed the recommended doses of a COVID-19 vaccine approved by the World Health Organization Emergency Use Listing (EUL) or the Maldives Food and Drug Authority. All vaccinated tourists need to let at least 14 days pass after completing the recommended doses before checking in to any of the islands.

Tourists who have not completed the recommended doses of a COVID-19 vaccine are able to visit a one-island, one resort upon fulfilment of below criteria;

  1. At least 60% of the population at the island eligible for vaccination have been vaccinated and 14 days have passed after the recommended doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
  2. At least 95% of staff in all tourist facilities of the island have been vaccinated and 14 days have passed after the recommended doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
  3. At least 90% of resident population of the island who are 65 years & above, have been vaccinated and 14 days have passed after the recommended doses of a COVID-19 Vaccine.
  1. All tourists need to hold a negative result for a nucleic acid test (PCR test) for COVID- 19, within 72 hours prior to checking out from the respective one-island, one-resort.