The People’s Majlis has presented its advisory regarding the first draft of the Maldives Safe Tourism Guideline (MSTG) report, compiled by the Ministry of Tourism, to President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
The parliament’s advisory regarding the report was presented to the president by Speaker and former president Mohamed Nasheed, after amendments passed during Wednesday’s sitting.
Amendments passed during Wednesday’s sitting include:
- Not to impose any additional taxes or fees on tourists other than those levied prior to Covid-19, as the country prepares to reopen its border in July
- The government to establish a mechanism that allows tourists to visit the Maldives without being subjected to a period in quarantine.
The committee report was compile with suggestions proposed by speaker Mohamed Nasheed, Central-Maafannu MP Ibrahim Rasheed, Mathiveri MP Hassan Zareer and Hinnavaru MP Jeehan Mahmood. Parliament passed the motion to present the advisory to the Ministry of Tourism. Speaker Nasheed has requested from the president to facilitate a seamless, smooth process for tourists.
The amendments were passed by 55 parliamentarians, unanimously and a report by the committee on economic affairs, was passed with the amendment, with 59 unanimous votes.
The “Maldives Safe Tourism Guideline” draft includes procedures to be followed in allowing entry into the island nation and its resorts, as well as procedures for tourist establishments to follow in the case symptomatic cases arise.
When the draft was initially submitted, parliamentarians had debated on the importance of focusing on strategies that will attract tourists to the island nation at a time the country’s economy has been severely affected due to the global pandemic.
Earlier, tourism minister Ali Waheed also assured that additional fees will not be taken from tourists, when the Maldives reopens its borders.
Taking additional fees from tourists is expected to pave way for more negative impacts on the industry, which was hit hard by the pandemic even before it was discovered in the Maldives.
Before being finalized and published, the government’s official policy will have suggestions from all industry stakeholders incorporated into it, the ministry earlier assured upon drawing criticism after the guideline began circulating among the public.
