Maldives won't take extra measures for Chinese arrivals
The minister's assurance is that the country's health sector will also be prepared for any crisis.
Maldives government said on Tuesday it would not require travellers from China to produce a negative Covid-19 test or take any additional precautionary measures for arrivals from China, bucking a trend that has seen a number of nations implement such measures as cases surge in China.
Tourism minister Abdulla Mausoom told Atoll Times on Tuesday that with the commencement of Chinese flights to the Maldives on January 18, a large number of Chinese tourists are expected to arrive in the Maldives. He said:
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Maldives would not take any additional measures even if other countries do so
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The country's tourism is an industry where everyone can be welcomed without any discrimination
"We are impatient to welcomes Chinese tourists. The Maldives is fully prepared to welcome Chinese tourists," the minister said.
He added that resorts in the Maldives are also preparing to welcome Chinese tourists.
The minister's assurance is that the country's health sector will also be prepared for any crisis.
"Tourism in the Maldives will be ready enough to cater to any eventuality as the industry progresses," he said.
A number of countries including Britain, the United States and Australia have demanded that travellers from China produce a negative Covid-19 test over concerns about the scale of the country's outbreak and scepticism over Beijing's health statistics. The move has been criticised by Chinese state-media as discriminatory.
Infections in China have spiked after the country dropped its strict zero-cases policy on Dec 7, allowing the virus to spread.
Beijing Capital Airlines will start its first flight to the Maldives from January 18, followed by China Eastern on 28 January.
Before Covid-19, China was the single biggest tourist source market for the Maldives.
