Maldives to offer holidaymakers vaccines on arrival

CNBC: The Maldives will soon offer visitors vaccinations on arrival as part of its three-pronged initiative aimed at reviving the country’s hard-hit travel sector, according to its tourism minister.

The “3V” strategy, which encourages tourists to “visit, vaccinate and vacation”, will provide a “more convenient” way to visit the country, Abdulla Mausoom told CNBC on Wednesday.

At present, visitors to the Maldives must provide a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and proof of hotel booking to gain entry.

Mausoom said the country’s Health Protection Agency is set to make an announcement on restriction-free entry to vaccinated arrivals “very soon — maybe even this week”.

The Maldives, an archipelago state in South Asia renowned for its tropical beaches and pristine waters, is heavily dependent on its tourism industry. Around 67 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) is derived directly and indirectly from the sector.