Covid-19

BEFORE ARRIVAL IN THE MALDIVES:

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ESSENTIAL INFORMATION:

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• All nationalities are welcome to travel to the Maldives.

• All tourists travelling to The Maldives must have a booking reservation or confirmation from a registered tourist facility. This can be a resort, hotel or travel agency (like us!)

• All tourists and short-term visitors (including children) travelling to The Maldives must present a negative PCR test certificate in English, on arrival. The PCR test needs to have been taken no more than 96 hours prior to departure from your country of origin.

• All tourists travelling to The Maldives must fill out an online Health Declaration Form here. This must be filled 24 hours before arrival in The Maldives. 

• Put your mind at ease and purchase Travel Insurance here.

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THE MALDIVES HAS ACHIEVED THE WORLD TRAVEL & TOURISM COUNCIL SAFE TRAVELS STAMP:

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• This stamp seeks to provide consistency and reassurance for global travellers following the COVID-19 pandemic.

• In order to qualify, global countries have to demonstrate and satisfy over 17 protocols, which are aligned with WTTC core requirements. These include:

  • The country must evolve protocols according to level of risk at the destination, such as having realistic health, sanitation, disinfection, distancing, and safety protocols that businesses of all sizes can implement.

  • In the case of aviation and airports, the country must comply with the International Civil Aviation Organization's 'Takeoff: Guidance for Air Travel through the COVID-19 Public Health Crisis'.

  • The country must be able to respond proactively and with a solution that will ensure the mental and physical well being of the traveller in the event that they present COVID-19 symptoms.

  • The recommendation that travellers must wear a mask when interacting with people, in all modes of transports, during excursions and when indoors. 

  • The country must urge travellers to maintain physical distancing and wash and sanitise their hands often and thoroughly.

  • The country must ensure ongoing compliance of the requirements. 

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WHAT MALDIVES TOURIST FACILITIES CAN YOU BOOK?

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• Certain resorts and live-aboard's are currently open.

• Guesthouses are permitted to re-open from 15th October onwards.

• Not all properties will open in line with the opening dates announced by the Government. 

 

YOU CAN STAY IN MULTIPLE MALDIVES TOURIST FACILITIES IF:

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• It is allowed to stay in multiple resorts during your stay, but you must request for approval from the Ministry of Tourism 2 days prior your arrival to The Maldives. The following conditions must also be fulfilled:

  • The resorts must not have any reported cases of Covid-19 or if Covid-19 cases exist on the resort, these should be a small number of isolated cases or cases which have occurred within a family or a group of people staying together.

  • There should be no active cases of Covid-19 among the workers or staff of the resorts. If a case has been reported amongst staff, travel will be permitted only if no further cases are detected among staff for 28 days after the last case.

  • Tourists must undergo an exit screening prior to travel from the resort. This is to ensure that a symptomatic person or a person in quarantine does not exit the resort and travel, spreading the virus further.

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ALL MALDIVES TOURIST FACILITIES HAVE TO FOLLOW SPECIFIC HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDELINES:

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• All tourist facilities will be required to comply with relevant Maldives legislation and specific standards when reopening. You can read more details about this here.

  • All tourist facilities must have access to medical services, PPE and a Covid-19 safety manager.

  • All tourist facilities must submit a Health & Safety plan to the Ministry of Tourism.

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UPON ARRIVAL IN THE MALDIVES:

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ESSENTIAL INFORMATION:

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• All tourists travelling to The Maldives must wear their mask at all times until they have safety arrived to their accommodation. 

• At Airport Immigration, all tourists must show their negative PCR certificate, booking confirmation, return flight booking and have emergency contact information.

• All tourists will be given a free 30-day VISA for The Maldives.

• ​Whilst this is not a requirement of entry, tourists are encouraged to download the HPA ‘Trace Ekee’ app to help assist with the contact tracing of Covid-19.

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WHAT MEASURES HAS THE AIRPORT IN THE MALDIVES IMPLEMENTED? 

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• Reduced capacity: For everyone's safety, the arrival hall capacity at Velana International Airport has been reduced almost by half, from 1000 passengers to 570. The departures terminal will also be reduced from 1,200 to 750 passengers.

• Social distancing: Correct social distancing measures have been implemented with floor markings and information in passenger terminals. All travellers will have to social distance at the ticketing and check-in counters (where glass sheet separators have been installed) and the pre-flight inspection zone in the international terminal and domestic terminal at the airport.

• Disinfection: All public areas, seats, lounge areas, ticketing and check-in counters, flooring and more are subject to regular disinfecting.

• Thermal screenings: It is compulsory for all passengers to wear a face mask and undergo thermal screening at the arrival terminal, all while social distancing.

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IS THERE COVID-19 TESTING UPON ARRIVAL IN THE MALDIVES?

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• Travellers will not need any further testing upon arrival to the Maldives unless symptoms are detected.

• Travellers presenting symptoms of Covid-19, including but not limited to, a cough, a runny nose or shortness of breath, will be subject to a PCR test at the traveller’s cost.

• Local health authorities may conduct random testing, at no cost to travellers.

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IF YOU DISPLAY COVID-19 SYMPTOMS DURING YOUR STAY IN THE MALDIVES:

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• Covid-19 symptoms from tourists should be immediately reported to the staff.

• Tourists displaying Covid-19 symptoms shall be isolated with immediate effect until further guidance from HPA and Ministry of Tourism is received. Isolation rooms shall be maintained and serviced as per standards set forth by HPA.

• In the case of a positive PCR result, the tourist facility, where the tourist is booked to stay in the Maldives, will be given the option of transferring the tourist to a government run facility or isolate in their hotel room. These options will also be subject to the individual’s medical condition.

• Tourist facilities shall bear responsibility for ensuring that the costs related to the transfer and accommodation of individuals who require treatment at a government managed facility are met.​

 

PRIOR TO DEPARTURE:

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ESSENTIAL INFORMATION:

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• If you need a PCR test in order to travel back to your home country (you will also need one if you are flying with Etihad or Emirates) simply notify us, Maldives Secrets, 5 days before your departure and we can organise this for you. This will be covered by the traveller and the PCR test must be completed 48 to 72 hours before your departure. Results should take 24 hours.

• Tourists undergo an exit screening prior to departure, the exit screening questionnaire should document any history of symptoms within the past 14 days.

• All travellers must complete the online health declaration form for departure too - within the 24 hour period prior to departure from the Maldives.

 

MALDIVES SECRETS FLEXIBLE CANCELLATION POLICY:

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​Travelling to The Maldives during these uncertain times is made easier with our Flexible Cancellation Policy! 

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• 10% Deposit: For all new bookings, there will be a non-refundable deposit of 10% to secure your booking at the time of confirmation. The deposit will only be refundable in extenuating circumstances such as airline cancellations or international border closures.

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• Free Reschedule of Dates: You can reschedule the dates of your trip free of charge, as many times as you’d like, up until 7 days before your departure to The Maldives. All payments made will be rolled over to the new travel dates.

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• Payment: Full payment for your holiday will be due 7-30 days before your arrival to The Maldives (depending on the hotel’s cancellation policy). 

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• Extenuating Circumstances: In the extenuating circumstances of airline cancellations, positive PCR tests and international border closures due to COVID-19, all funds paid can be refunded. 

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