Authorities decide to conduct a mass inspection after a surge in tourists vacationing in Maldives violating the precautionary guidelines set to control the spread of COVID-19.
This inspection will be carried in various regions of the nation.
According to an announcement made by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) on Tuesday evening, they have received multiple reports on tourists violating guidelines. If anyone is observed to be against regulations, the agency stated they would take appropriate action against them.
This joint inspection will be carried out by Maldives Immigration, Police, Tourism Ministry, Economic Ministry and Local Government Authority (LGA).
As per HPA guidelines, as of July 26, tourists can stay in Male' and administrative islands if 14 days have passed since they received their second dose of COVID-19. The vaccines accepted are the ones World Health Organisation (WHO) have given emergency approval for, or the vaccines that Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) has approved to be used in Maldives.
People that have not been fully inoculated can only visit inhabited islands if 60 percent of the total eligible population has been fully vaccinated, inclusive of 95 percent of the workers in the hospitality industry in the island, and 90 percent of the people above the age of 65.
Due to stricter travel restrictions from other nations, foreign travellers view Maldives as a "quarantine destination" prior to heading to the end of their journey. Indian tourists have been visiting Maldives increasingly for this reason leading to guesthouses in administrative islands to be at full capacity. Some islands have been hosting tourists in the homes of citizens, which is a clear violation of regulation.
Two hundred and forty tourists had been denied entry to Maldives on May 9 for attempting to visit the nation without completing due procedure.
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