The country’s borders opened on 15 July, with the Maldivian Ministry of Tourism having outlined a set of “comprehensive Covid-19 safe tourism guidelines and hygiene certification programme” which all resorts must now abide by back in June.

Now the Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation (MMPRC), which oversees tourism promotion, has said that 146 of the 156 resorts in the country should be reopen by the end of October and abiding by the new health and safety measures.

MMPRC said 43 resorts are already open, including Lux North Male Atoll, Oblu by Atmosphere, Soneva Fushi, Angsana Resort & Spa, Varu by Atmosphere, Jumeirah Vittaveli, Velaa Private Island and both of Four Seasons’ resorts in the country.

Meanwhile this month, a further 28 resorts are set to get back to business, including Joali Maldives, all four Coco Collection properties and Centara’s portfolio of resorts, as well as the recently launched Emerald Maldives Resort & Spa. 

In September, a further 29 Maldivian resorts will welcome back tourists, including Gili Lankanfushi, COMO Cocoa Island, Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa, four of Aitken Spence Hotels’ Maldivian properties and The Nautilus.

The number of resorts ready for business again by October will mean the destination is ready for “the key winter sun travel months when many UK holidaymakers traditionally escape to warmer climates”, MMPRC said.

“Following the issue of detailed Covid-19 safe tourism guidelines and the reopening of our international borders, the Maldives is now fully prepared to welcome back tourists to our island nation, with safety being the destination’s top priority,” said Thoyyib Mohamed, managing director of MMPRC. 

For now however, the country has yet to be added to the UK government’s list of acceptable destinations for travel, and remains on the “don’t go” list, with no travel corridor in place.