Maldives will open it’s borders once the dust settles and the spread of the virus is contained and the safety of the people is ensured, states Tourism Minister Ali Waheed.
At a press conference held at the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) on Monday evening, the Minister revealed that current forecasts that the tourism industry is expected to restart by July, which is the time the current situation is expected to ease. This is the best case scenario he added.
In the moderate scenario, the country backbone of the country’s economy- the industry is expected to restart around October when the government manages to identify the details of the spread and fully bring it under control.
The Minister also noted how efforts are being made to decide which airport to open first. Highlighting that a research is being conducted for the required safety standards and procedures to allow the opening of Velana International Airport, and for the time being allow the first tourist jets and chartered flights to be landed on other airports.
The minster also reassured that though the country is heavily dependent on the tourism industry the border will be opened for the people and not just for the sake of businesses.
