The Maldives Will Give Vaccines To Tourists Upon Arrival

To help revive its tourism industry, the Maldives will soon begin offering visitors vaccinations upon arrival.

It’s part of the island’s three-pronged (or “3V”) strategy — “visit, vaccinate, and vacation,” CNBC reported. Currently, visitors to the Maldives must provide evidence of a negative PCR test and proof of hotel booking before gaining entry. The vaccine program, however, is expected to change these requirements.

A timeline has not yet been established for the visitor vaccine program, as the goal is to make sure all residents receive their shots first. Once all citizens are vaccinated, however, the Maldives will begin visitor vaccinations. Currently around 51.5 percent of the island’s residents have received their first dose, including 90 percent of front-line tourism personnel.

Abdulla Mausoom, the Maldives’ tourism minister, told CNBC, “I don’t think supply’s a problem in Maldives because our population is relatively small. The quota [of vaccines] we get from the various organizations and friendly nations also will help.”

The Maldives’ economy relies heavily on tourism. Its target is 1.5 million tourist arrivals and 10 million bed nights this year. That’s still not as high as its yearly average, but the vaccine program should go a long way toward helping meet that goal.