The Maldives government on Tuesday, 17 March 2020, announced its decision to temporarily prohibited all local guesthouses and hotels from accepting new tourist bookings.
The development was confirmed by Minister of Tourism Mr Ali Waheed during a press conference held on Tuesday afternoon, who asserted the Maldives government arrived to the decision in light of the rapidly spreading COVID-19 pandemic.
Minister Waheed noted Maldives Health Protection Agency (HPA) has ordered the temporary shut down on all local guesthouses and hotels effective from 18:00hrs onward.
Moreover, Minister Waheed highlighted tourists currently holidaying in Maldives are restricted from visiting local islands. Furthermore, he had detailed the tourists currently lodging in local guesthouses or hotels can stay until the duration of their bookings.
While the government has stepped in to ban new tourist bookings on all local guesthouses and hotels, authorities had earlier shut down such venues at Male’ City region including Hulhumale’ and Hulhule’.
Meanwhile the island nation confirms a total of 13 COVID-19 positive cases, all reported from foreigners.