The Maldives will reopen its borders to travellers from South Asian countries including India from July 15.
International passengers will be required to present a negative PCR test result taken within 96 hours before departure, said the Ministry of Tourism in Male in a tweet last month.
The announcement has come as a massive relief to tourism stakeholders across the island nation whose economy is heavily dependent on tourism.
The Maldives had suspended the issuance of tourist visas for visitors from South Asian countries, since May 13. Besides India, the countries included under the ban were Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
India has emerged the second largest source market for the Maldives this year, accounting for 21 per cent of all arrivals, according to media reports.
The island nation has welcomed more than 400,000 tourists since the start of January until end-June. Russia has been the biggest source market, followed by India, Ukraine, Germany and Kazakhstan.
