Maldives Drops Testing For Vaccinated Visitors As The Trend Gains Steam

There’s a big trend bubbling in travel right now and it’s one that most people can really get excited about. Countries are dropping testing requirements for the fully vaccinated in a bid to win back visitors.

Cases were clearly an important metric earlier in the pandemic, but the move toward an endemic means that hospitalizations and deaths are now the key numbers to follow and the benefits of testing may be outweighed by the negatives. Many people simply won’t travel if there’s a risk of asymptomatically testing positive abroad.

After a flurry of countries and states dropped testing in recent weeks, including the UK, Hawaii, and Oman, The Maldives is now the latest dreamy place to drop requirements, ushering in a new era of post pandemic travel.

If you’re considering a trip to the Maldives or heading there soon, here’s exactly what to expect from these new entry protocols — and a few bits of nuance.

Maldives Drops Testing For Vaccinated On March 5th

Effective March 5th, 2022 fully vaccinated visitors are no longer required to take a Covid-19 test prior to departure from their home country, or before their return.

All other visitors who haven’t received their full Covid-19 vaccination dosage more than 14 days prior to arrival must still test negative using a PCR test prior to departure.

Tourists visiting #Maldives are no longer required to present a #COVID19 PCR negative result upon arrival if the prescribed doses of vaccine are completed 14 days prior to date of arrival.@visitmaldives

— Ministry of Tourism (@MoTmv) March 4, 2022

The last and only remaining Covid-19 related protocol is that all visitors must fill out a passenger health locator form. The form can be found here. The relaxed rules apply to all visitors staying on inhabited islands, but that should also cover most resorts.

This leaves the door open for resorts on their own islands to request or require a PCR test, even though the country does not, but thus far few — if any — have. Even if this was required, it would only apply to enter the resort and not as a necessity before air travel to the Maldives.

A Great Time To Visit The Maldives

The Maldives has long been a leading country in tourism and hospitality, with an unmatched setting to draw people in.

During the pandemic, the country balanced the need for safety with a deep need for tourism by creating standard setting Covid-19 test protocols and other requirements to keep a flow of visitors, but also keep people as safe as possible. As one of the few “open” places, it almost became too popular.

But now, with the world opening again and choices galore opening left and right, there’s serious value to be had in The Maldives, as countries compete once again to lure visitors. And don’t forget, The Maldives also became the world’s first country to launch a loyalty program for visitors, so you’ve got that going for you!

You can read the details of these testing changes directly from the Maldivian Tourism authorities, here.