Maldives on Thursday announced that the country will reopen its borders starting July, after months of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking at the NEOC press conference, Assistant Director at the Health Ministry, Aminath Shaina Abdulla said that the Maldivian borders along with the tourism sector will be opening next month.

She said that the government offices, tourism sector, international airports and congregational prayers will be resuming through their respective ministries under the advisement of the Health Protection Agency (HPA).

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Maldives closed its borders on 27 March 2020.

And so, the largest economic contributing sector, tourism, sustained heavy setbacks with over 40,000 employees in the sector affected directly. More than half of them are local employees.

While the government prepared to reopen the borders, the tourism Ministry is making preparations to bring tourists as soon as the borders open. And so, the Ministry and the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) has launched a very successful virtual event to rejuvenate Maldivian tourism.