Indians can Still Holiday at Resorts and Liveaboards in the Maldives

Indians can still holiday in the Maldives! You can travel from India to the Maldives if you’re staying at a resort or a liveaboard. However, from today, 27th April 2021 onwards Indian tourists will no longer be allowed to stay at guesthouses or hotels located in inhabited islands.

The Maldives’ decision to ban travellers from India comes as the neighbouring country faces a surge in COVID-19 cases. The World Health Organization (WHO) has called India’s current crisis beyond heartbreaking.

India is the biggest tourist source market for the Maldives (in terms of tourist arrivals) as of 21st April 2021. Likewise, India was the top tourist source market in 2020 and the fastest-growing market in 2019 as well.

The Maldives’ Ministry of Tourism revealed that tourists arriving from India who has completed the prescribed dose(s) of a COVID-19 vaccine, must still hold a negative PCR test result for COVID-19 before entering the Maldives. Likewise, this PCR test should not be taken more than 96 hours before travellers depart to the Maldives.

In addition to that, these tourists should take a PCR test for COVID-19 within 72 hours before they depart from the Maldives.

After the news that the Maldives will ban tourists from India, netizens shared memes trolling the Bollywood celebrities who visited the Maldives in the past few weeks. Countless Bollywood stars have holidayed in the Maldives after the island archipelago reopened its borders last year.

Also read: Indian Celebrities that Visited Maldives After Lockdown

This April, some of the most influential Bollywood celebrities decided to visit the Maldives for the second time as well. Tiger Shroff, Disha Patani, Sara Ali Khan, Alia Bhatt, and Ranbir Kapoor just recently spend their getaway in the Maldives; for the second time since the island nation reopened its borders.

Indians can easily access the Maldives thanks to the close distance between the two nations and the seamless air connectivity. The Maldives and India also maintain close bilateral relations as the two countries have been friendly and close in strategic, economic and military cooperation.

Feature image(s) via Instagram

Although we do not expect heroic stories to come out of a vacation at a Maldives resort, recent incidents have shown that anything can happen. Yes, even when you’re on vacation. The heroic stories of two couples, Mr. Jordan Daniel Van Dyk and Ms. Denielle De Bruyn have started circulating across the Maldives. The couple came to the Maldives for their honeymoon at the beautiful Dusit Thani Maldives. However, it appears that the honeymooners are leaving the Maldives with more than just honeymoon memories.

According to the Baa Atoll Police Station, on the 28th of April, the couple witnessed a staff member falling from a water villa deck into the ocean while on duty. If you’re ever stayed at a Maldives resort, you can understand the fear of falling from the deck into the ocean. Although the water below is beautiful, when caught off guard, the ocean can be a scary place. It appeared that the staff member was in a state of distress and was struggling in the water. In these situations, people do one of two things. Wait for someone else to take action as they stand by, or immediately jump in to avoid a sad situation.

Despite the challenging circumstances, Mr. Van Dyk and Ms. De Bruyn acted swiftly and courageously, coming to the aid of the drowning staff member. There is no doubt that this swift response by the couple was heroic, averting what could have been a tragic event at Dusit Thani Maldives.

Dusit Thani Maldives has acknowledged the bravery and swift action of the honeymooning couple, awarding them for their bravery in saving the staff member of the resort.

Indians can Still Holiday at Resorts and Liveaboards in the Maldives

Also read: Indian Celebrities that Visited Maldives After Lockdown

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