Tourists stranded by flight cancellations amid the ongoing Middle East conflict are now being accommodated at the old domestic terminal at Velana International Airport.
Minister of Tourism and Environment Thoriq Ibrahim visited the airport last night to review the situation, following which he told State media PSM that measures have been arranged to ensure stranded tourists can stay comfortably at the airport.
Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) handed out sleeping bags, blankets and other items to stranded tourists staying overnight at the airport last night.
The minister further said that the old Island Aviation Lounge will also be cleaned and used to put up families.
Last night, tourists whose travel was interrupted spent the night at the old domestic terminal and the air conditioned area below the restaurants in front of the terminal.
MACL arranged sleeping facilities and supplied water at these locations.
Thoriq stated last night that 1,400 departing tourists were unable to leave due to the ongoing situation.
"Some opted to change flight connections and find alternative means of flying out. Others wanted to wait at the airport and see how things go," he said.
He affirmed that the government is closely monitoring the situation through deliberations with all stakeholders.
With the conflict in the Middle East flaring up, all flights from the region to Maldives have now been cancelled.
