Last Updated on May 2, 2020 by WFD
Hundreds of tourists are still stranded in the Maldives given the sudden worldwide lockdown triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Country’s tourism minister, Ali Waheed – in an interview with CNN – broke the news that there are hundreds of tourists still stranded on the island after more than a month of the arrival of the Coronavirus in the Maldives.
He informed that there were nearly 500 tourists on various islands of the nation, while 100 of them are stranded at the airport.
Like how the luxury travel sector is helping societies during the pandemic, the Maldivian government has decided to help every tourist who can’t continue staying in lavish resorts because of budget constraints. The tourism minister said these tourists for them are like locals as “they are the people who have brought this country to where it is now.”
This comes after one newlywed couple reported being stranded on the island nation on their honeymoon after the travel restrictions were imposed.
READ ALSO: Dubai Expected to Open to Tourists in July
The couple, Olivia and Raul De Freitas, originally from South Africa arrived at the luxury Cinnamon Velifushi Maldives resort on 22 March, expecting to stay for just six days then head back to their home country. But they were still stuck there a week later, uncertain of when they would be able to get a flight home.
Although they were allowed to stay at a heavily discounted rate – the price per night normally starts at $750 – the financial toll weighed on the couple’s minds, as savings for a house deposit had to be dipped in for their ever-lengthening honeymoon.
“Everyone says they want to be stuck on a tropical island until you’re actually stuck. It only sounds good because you know you can leave,” Ms De Freitas said at the time.
The Maldives is a nation of islands in the Indian Ocean that spans across the equator. The country is comprised of 1192 islands that stretch along a length of 871 kilometers. It’s a must-visit country like any of these gorgeous destinations.