Ministry of Tourism has announced guesthouses will be permitted to resume operations on October 15.
The tourism ministry stated the issuing of permits to guesthouses will be based on consent from the respective island council as well as the criteria and guideline by Health Protection Agency (HPA). The ministry said further information on reopening guesthouses will be provided in a press conference on September 2.
Maldives reopened its borders for tourists on July 15, more than three months after borders were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While resorts and safaris have been permitted to reopen since July 15, guesthouses were not allowed to reopen yet.
The government initially announced plans to reopen guesthouses in August. However, reopening of guesthouses was postponed due to a second wave of COVID-19 cases in the country.