Reopening borders early—in July 2020—was a risky move that most hoteliers now agree proved worth it. The Maldives has since inoculated roughly 73% of its population (hotel staff drew priority as frontline workers), and tourism has recovered up to 70% of its 2019 levels, far outpacing the Seychelles (down 61% from its 2019 levels) and Indonesia (down 90%).
All the cliches you’ve heard about the Maldives are true. Its waters really do glisten cyan, postcard-perfect beaches are ten per penny, and its unrivalled seclusion offers worthy hideouts to the most paparazzi-prone stars.
It’s no wonder that tourism has long been pivotal to the Maldivian economy: By early 2020, it accounted for 28% of gross domestic product and 60% of the country’s foreign exchange receipts. When the pandemic made international travel collapse, the ramifications were seismic and unsustainable.
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