Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has revealed five different airlines from India are set to resume scheduled flights to the Maldives, following the reopening of Maldivian borders for South Asian countries.
Maldives had suspended issuing tourist visas for individuals from other South Asian countries on May 13, due to the rise of COVID-19 cases in the region. Following the decrease in cases, the government has eased some of the restrictions this month, and reopened borders for visitors from South Asia.
Speaking on the resumption of international flights to the Maldives, General Manager Corporate Communications of MACL Hassan Areef said five airlines from India are set to resume flights to the Maldives following the reopening of borders to South Asian countries. In this regard, Areef revealed Air India, Go Air, SpiceJet, IndiGo and SpiceJet are set to resume scheduled flights to the Maldives this month.
Despite the resumption of tourist arrivals from South Asian countries, Health Protection Agency (HPA) has not yet permitted tourists to visit hotels and guesthouses in inhabited islands. However, HPA has stated tourists transiting in Male’ can stay at hotels and guesthouses permitted to be operated as transit facilities by the Ministry of Tourism.
Up until the suspension of tourist arrivals from South Asian countries in May, India had been the top source market of tourists to the Maldives this year. In this regard, an average of 3,000 tourists had been visiting the Maldives from India on a daily basis before May.