With many countries being hit by a second wave of coronavirus infection, tourism seems the last thing on many peoples’ minds. But some destinations depend so heavily on tourists they are looking for ways to tempt visitors back – safely. The Maldives is one of them. By James Teo.

Malé, Maldives. October 2020. According to recent reports, several international airlines are in talks to resume flights to Velana International Airport on Malé, touchdown point for visitors of one of the world’s most popular eco-destinations. As for passengers, tourists that have boarded will be tempted to disembark with quarantine-free processing, a free one-month on-arrival visa, and easy-as extensions should they decide to stay longer.

The authorities are not just flinging the doors open regardless, however. Visitors will be screened and tested prior to booking, on arrival, will have to complete a legally-binding health declaration card, and will be subject to health screening on arrival along with physical distancing at point of entry and wherever they stay, say officials.

“The Maldives is easing out of lockdown and preparing to open borders to what is our new normal,” said Ali Waheed, the then Tourism Minister when the scheme was hatched. “The Maldives believes the key to successful post pandemic tourism is a balance between confidence and convenience. That is what we offer as we reopen.”

Any Maldivian resort or hotel that wants to take tourists will now be subject to strict regulations, said Waheed. As well as the mandatory negative COVID-19 test prior to departure for Malé , carried out within 96 hours of departure, after arrival all visitors will be kept as safe as possible during their stay.

Resorts and hotels need to meet new health standards set by the Health Protection Agency before being permitted to re-open. Seeking to avoid the chaotic and largely unregulated scenes seen across European resorts during the 2020 northern summer, the authorities say the nation’s coherent governance and cross-island administration should help ensure the maximum safety for visitors.

This includes every resort hiring a dedicated Covid-19 manager, setting up isolation and quarantine facilities in advance in case they are needed, stockpiling PPE for staff and guests, and plans for rapid medical expertise accessibility in case of infection.

“The global COVID-19 pandemic had more of a socio-economic impact on the Maldives than either the 2004 Asian Tsunami and the 2008 Global Financial Crisis,” explained Waheed. “As a small island state, the Maldives has unique vulnerabilities to external shocks, and our economy is expected to contract significantly.”

No surprise then that many resorts are knuckling down to put as many reassuring elements in place, ones that reassure guests and help them feel comfortable and safe as they take their holiday.

One group, Soneva, is adding to the government requirements by sanitising luggage on arrival, performing more Covid tests on arrival as well as five days into the stay, and performing regular temperature checks on guests every day. But it is also taking the opportunity to polish up its sustainability credentials during the pause imposed by the coronavirus.

“Advances in sustainable technology and renewables will revolutionise (our) industry, and with cleaner, more efficient and more sustainable forms of energy, long-haul travel will no longer be seen as taboo,” says Sonu Shivdasani, CEO and founder of Soneva. He says that small things like changing the menu will make a difference when tourists return. “There is already a growing reaction against eating cows and other red meats by many people around the world– for environmental, ethical and health reasons, especially following COVID-19 where many more people are focused on improving their wellbeing,” he says. He asserts that  the beef industry is a “mass-produced form of protein for people”, and simply not sustainable. Accordingly, Soneva’s new menu will boast more than 50% less meat when visitors arrive.

This new post-pandemic approach is already reaping rewards. According to Shivdasani, discerning and sustainability-aware guests are queuing up, Covid or no Covid. He notes that bookings in August alone were well up on the number taken in 2019. “As the borders open, and our main markets are allowed to travel to us, it could be our best ever," he adds.

The country certainly needs all the income it can get: the Asian Development Bank estimated that the Maldives would be one of the worst coronavirus-affected countries in Asia, and could lose up to $300 million in revenue compared to a single normal season. But the country is fighting back.

“Maldives is now easing out of lockdown and preparing to open borders to the new normal,” said Waheed. “As we do so, we want to protect our hard fought gains against COVID-19. We hope to see you soon, on the sunny side of life.”