Press Release on Air travel bubble
An air-travel bubble between India and the Maldiveswas established on 25 August 2020, with a weekly Air India flight on the Delhi-Trivandrum-Male’sector. It is India’s first such air travel bubble in South Asia, Maldives being one of only 9 countries in the world with which India has entered into such an arrangement.
Taking advantage of this arrangement, Indigo airlines has commenced two flights per week on the Kochi-Male’ sector beginning 3 September. Maldivian airlines is scheduled to operate two more flights connecting Male’ with ….. starting 10 September. This will take the total number of flights operating between Maldives and India to 5 per week.
The announcement for establishing an air-travel bubble was made by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar during a virtual meeting with Foreign Minister of Maldives Abdulla Shahid on August 13.
The idea behind starting an air travel bubble with the Maldives is to bring back Indian tourists to the Maldives at a time when the Maldivian economy has been hit by an economic crisis brought on by the Covid pandemic. Nearly 167,000 Indians visited the Maldives in 2019, a rise of more than 100% over the figures for 2018. Excellent relations with President Solih’s government, improved flight connectivity between the two countries and a visa-free regime were the underlying factors for an increase in Indian tourists. India is the first country of reference for over 80% of Maldivian patients who travel abroad for treatment. The air travel bubble will also facilitate the travel of Maldivians seeking medical treatment in India.
Maldives is known for its white-sand beaches, aquamarine blue waters and rich marine biodiversity. Nearly half the country’s 160 plus resorts have also started functioning. The guesthouse industry comprising more than 800 guest houses in inhabited islands for budget-travelers is expected to commence soon.
India hopes that with 5 flights per week between India and Maldives, regular flow of Indian tourists to the Maldives will resume, demonstrating on ground India’s firm commitment to supporting the Maldivian tourism sector and thereby the economy.
