Maldives on Tuesday granted permission to 49 more guesthouses to start their operations in different atolls of the countries, reported Sun news. The country has a total capacity of 9,899 beds in local guest houses.

The order came in the backdrop of the government’s sustained efforts to revive the tourism sector of the country. The livelihood of around 6000 local people in residential islands is directly linked to the operations of these local guesthouses which have been hit hard by the lockdown in the past month. 

Eyeing the recovery of the tourism sector in the country, the tourism ministry adopted a phased opening of the industry, putting all health and safety guidelines in place. Since October 15, the government allowed the guesthouses in residential islands to start operations. 

The country is making a slow, but steady, progress on tourists’ arrival with the last Sunday witnessing the highest single-day arrival, 1582, since the reopening of the country on 15 July.