Tourism Minister, Dr. Abdulla Mausoom has said that the guesthouses in the Male’ area would be able to resume services in November.

The initial “Safe Tourism Guide” issued by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) was set to reopen guesthouses in the Maldives in August but the government pushed back the date to 15 October. On that date, guesthouses outside the Greater Male’ Area can reopen.

Minister Mausoom took to Twitter this morning to announce that the guesthouses and tourist facilities in the Male’ Area would be able to reopen in early November. He said that two consecutive weeks of COVID-19 cases under five percent is required to make that happen.

The Tourism Minister said that there are many challenges to meet that goal but want to be an example to the world.

He said that tourists staying at the guesthouses are also required to be tested before leaving the country and the Health Ministry is set to open the chance for private testing for those who wish to do so. Minister Mausoom said that this is an opportunity to carry out the procedure in a business model similar to how its done in other countries.