The Maldives has been the ultimate favourite holiday destination of Indians for time immemorial. Especially during the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic, many Bollywood celebrities like Alia Bhatt, Tiger Shroff, Disha Patni, Katrina Kaif and Sara Ali Khan went holidaying here by the beaches. Wealthy Indians also flew here in their private jets. But since the past few weeks, people on Twitter have called out celebrities for flaunting their privilege on social media. Actors like Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Amit Sadh slammed the actors for their lack of empathy. Later, the Maldivian government issued a directive suspending tourists travelling from India to the Maldives, from residing at tourist facilities in inhabited islands. Now, the Maldives has announced that visas for tourists from India and other countries in South Asia will be stopped from May 13 in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Maldives Bans Indians & Other Tourists From South Asian Countries
Bollywood’s favourite destination the Maldives has banned tourists from India and other South Asian countries due to the rising Covid cases. The Maldives announced that from May 13 the visas for tourists from India and other nations in South Asia will be halted. Maldives Immigration released a statement on Twitter stating, “Temporary suspension for tourists and all other categories of visa holders originating from South Asian countries.” This restriction also applies to visitors who transited in South Asian countries for the past 14 days. All visa holders originating from South Asia countries, except healthcare workers with a valid work permit are temporarily restricted to enter the Maldives. Indian tourists who are already in the Maldives must make travel arrangements to return back to India.
Temporary suspension for tourists and all other categories of visa holders originating from South Asian countries.
Read more: https://t.co/justraPKiM pic.twitter.com/C76H79W8nL
— Maldives Immigration (@ImmigrationMV) May 11, 2021
The Maldives Earlier Prohibited Indians From Staying In Tourist Facilities On Its Remote Islands
The Maldives has issued a travel advisory banning all Indians from staying on remote islands for tourism purposes. They suspended tourists travelling from India to the Maldives from staying at tourist facilities in inhabited islands. The order will be implemented from April 27. The Ministry of Tourism’s tweet reads, “With effect from 27 April @HPA_mv suspends tourists travelling from #India to #Maldives from staying at tourist facilities in inhabited islands. We thank you for the support in our endeavour to make tourism the safest possible with the minimum inconvenience (sic).”
Also Read: Lakshadweep To Develop World-Class Cruise Tourism Similar To The Maldives
The Maldives Has Not Banned International Flights From India
The Maldives was the first nation to welcome tourists during the first lockdown in 2020. During this time celebs fled to the Maldives to seek leisure time and shared posts on social media, facing flak for the same. Earlier, Indians couldn’t visit uninhabited islands in the Maldives and stay at tourist facilities there. Now, Indians are completely banned from the Maldives until further notice. Until you can visit the Maldives, here’s a fun video to help you enjoy the destination.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhybdB8pieM
First Published: May 13, 2021 10:46 AM