Maldives houses less than 1,000 tourists, even as it expects a $450 million hit in revenue

There are around 1,000 tourists staying in 27 resorts across Maldives, the country’s minister of tourism Ali Waheed has said. To contain the spread of COVID-19, the Maldivian government on March 28 had stopped issuing on-arrival-visas and closed its borders to incoming tourists.

However, tourists who had entered the country before the order came into effect were allowed to remain in the country until the end of their stay.

Government estimates show that the country will see a dramatic drop in tourist arrivals due to the global pandemic, and experience a shortfall of approximately $450 million (MVR 6.9 billion) in foreign currency due to COVID-19 economic slowdown.

Minister Ali Waheed noted that most of the tourists currently in Maldives did not wish to return to their own country, and wanted to remain here.

“At the moment, daily rates of most resorts are between $300 and $900. There are also private islands that are about $3000 per day”.

Prior to COVID-19 economic slowdown, nightly room rates for 5-star resorts in Maldives ranged from $1500 to 3000, while a stay in a luxury private island sold for over $10,000 per night.

With global travel restrictions, the Maldivian tourism industry, which attributes to about 70 percent of the country’s GDP, was hit the hardest. Maldives’ economy continues to face severe repercussions due to these measures put in place following the COVID-19 outbreak.

Maldives presently records a total of 19 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with a total of 13 recoveries. Four Maldivians remain positive in the country, while two others residing abroad have tested positive for the virus. Thus far, local transmissions have been recorded.