The Maldives is undisputedly one of the most beautiful and breathtaking countries in the world. It has its own unique vibe and feel to it which has always attracted flocks of tourists to it. Now, we have some great news; the beautiful beaches, breathtaking sceneries and the heartwarming sundowners of Maldives are once again ready for your arrival! Whilst Maldives reopens for all the fun under the sun, here are some Maldives Travel Tips to make your travels even better;
Travelling to the Maldives:
The airports in the Maldives reopened on the 15th of July 2020 and international travelers have been permitted to visit the Maldives. There are no restrictions on any nationalities traveling to Maldives and all travelers are required to present a prior booking or confirmation of stay at a registered tourist facility. However, the entirety of their stay should be booked in one facility unless the tourist requires transit arrangements.
Currently, the airlines such as Emirates, Sri Lankan Airlines, Saudia, Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, China Eastern, Turkish Airlines, Air India, China Southern, Singapore Airlines, Aeroflot, Korean Air, Etihad Airways and Thai Airways have been granted permission to operate flights to the Maldives. It must be noted that airlines such as Etihad and Emirates requires PCR reports showing a negative result which should not have exceeded 96 hours, and the test should be done for both arrivals and departures. This facility will be provided at all our resorts, for your ease!
Maldives Visa requirements:
Good news is that by default tourists travelling to the Maldives will be provided a free 30-day tourist visa on arrival and if you wish to stay longer, visa extensions could now be applied for online. Considering the pandemic, however, all travelers must provide emergency contact information during the visa issuance process.
Other requirements prior to arrival:
In order to ensure safety to all, the Maldivian Authorities have made it compulsory for every arriving guest to submit an online Health Declaration form prior to arrival but not exceeding 24 hours before arrival time. This form can be filled on:
https://imuga.immigration.gov.mv/ethd/create .
Further, all tourist facilities will have a trained medical professional to collect samples if and when necessary, in order to ease the screening processes, set out at your next port of disembarkation.
Safety procedures upon arrival:
Upon your arrival at the airport, you will have to undergo temperature checks and other screening measures. If a traveler presents symptoms of COVID-19 upon arrival, he/she will be subjected to a PCR test at the traveler’s cost. Additionally, local health authorities may conduct random testing, this will be at no cost to the travelers. It must be noted that special attention will be paid to individuals exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 and must undergo a PCR test. Further, if one member of a group traveling together displays symptoms, all members of the group will be tested. All charges for guest transfers and PCR tests are expected to be borne by the guests and will cost approximately around USD 150 to USD 200 per person per test and your test results will be ready for you between 36 and 72 hours. It is of utmost importance to maintain all social distancing protocols during transfers and your time at the airport
All visitors to the Maldives are encouraged to install the contact tracing application ‘Trace Ekee’ upon or before arrival into the country.
Quarantine requirements:
Unless you have tested positive for COVID-19, there is no requirement for compulsory quarantine upon arrival at the Maldives. However, if one tests positive for COVID-19 they will be transferred to a government run quarantine center and will be charged accordingly. The person will be required to be quarantined for 14 days and until a negative test result is indicated.
Travelling to your Hotel:
To ensure utmost safety the health authorities have made it compulsory that all airport transfers should be through pick-ups by pre-booked hotel/travel facility arrangement. Private transfer arrangements will not be permitted.
Photo Credits : Trans Maldivian Airways
Where to stay:
We at Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts are ready to welcome all our guests in with Cinnamon Care and make sure that all our guests enjoy their stay to the maximum. Cinnamon Care is in place to ensure your safety while you travel during this period. We have implemented enhanced measures including high frequency cleaning and disinfection of guest areas, use of approved disinfectants against the COVID-19 virus and other bacteria, compliance for supply chain deliveries, and cleaning protocols for culinary and housekeeping areas. Book your stay at one of our hotels, Ellaidhoo Maldives by Cinnamon, Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives, Cinnamon Hakuraa Huraa Maldives and Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives. While you’re enjoying some fun under the sun, enjoy the wide array of delectable dishes from various cuisines, local or otherwise, that we have put together just for you at our hotels! Safety first, so don’t forget to follow the signage on directions and procedures placed at our resorts.
Arranging a Tour:
Arrangements for tours and excursions can be made at the travel facility/hotel directly. We at Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts have got it all set up and organized for you. Common excursions, diving and water sports are available to be availed by our guests easily by contacting the staff members at our hotels. However, visiting local Islands and Island-Hopping are prohibited due to health and safety measures.
Photo Credits : @sembrando_coordenadas
Departing from Maldives:
Maldivian Authorities requires all departing passengers to submit an online Health Declaration Form which must be filled not exceeding 24 hours prior to departure. The link can be accessed at https://imuga.immigration.gov.mv/ethd/create. Although we hate to say goodbye, the Authorities have made it compulsory that all tourists departing the Maldives should be at the airport 03 hours prior to the original flight time.
If you need more information to make your trip to the Maldives all the more memorable, you may visit the following link; https://www.tourism.gov.mv/covid19
Make the most of your Maldives trip by booking your stay with us at any of our hotels, let us take the helm of your journey and we will curate the perfectly memorable and unforgettable trip for you!
Photo Credits : @kris_svantner
Author: Shenella Fonseka
