The South African: No quarantine required: Magical Maldives the perfect lockdown getaway

With no travel ban being imposed on South Africans, along with the absence of quarantine requirements on arrival, the Maldives has become a popular destination during the COVID-19 era.

The Maldives was voted World’s Leading Destination for 2020 in the annual World Travel Awards. The magnificent island archipelago consists of more than 1,190 tiny coral islands in the Indian Ocean. The Maldives is located about 700km off the coast of the Asian subcontinent.

MALDIVES WELCOMES TOURISTS WITH OPEN ARMS

The Maldives reopened its doors to tourism in July 2020, which was early in comparison with many other countries.

The island nation has had a firm grip on the spread of COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic. The Maldives has a recovery rate of more than 90% at the moment, with a mortality rate of 0.33%.

ACCOMMODATION IN THE MALDIVES

Visitors are only permitted to stay at government-approved accommodation facilities during their visit to the Maldives. There are 124 resorts, 29 guesthouses, five hotels and several transit facilities that approval to host guests in the country.

RANGE OF ACTIVITIES FOR GUESTS

Each resort has a selection of onsite activities, from spa treatments, a fitness club and kids’ corners to scuba diving, snorkelling, fishing trips and picnics on remote islands. Guests will also be able to enjoy sunbathing, swimming in azure waters or simply lying in a hammock taking in the magnificent island setting.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR MALDIVES

COVID-19 guidelines in the Maldives require that all travellers must present a negative PCR test on arrival. The test must be taken a maximum of 96 hours before arrival.

All passengers arriving and departing from the Maldives must complete a self-declaration health form 24 hours before departure.

It is also suggested that all visitors install the TraceEkee app on arrival. The mobile app uses Bluetooth technology to monitor community interaction and thus helps to prevent the spread of the virus.

VISAS AND INSURANCE

Visitors are issued with 30-day tourist visas on arrival. 

The Maldives recently also introduced special COVID-19 insurance that travellers can buy before their arrival. This insurance covers medical expenses, as well as isolation and transportation costs which would be incurred in the event of getting infected with COVID-19.