English
Arabic
Chinese (Simplified)
Dutch
French
German
Indonesian
Italian
Malay
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish
Swedish
Thai
Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen has extended the state of emergency in the Maldives by another 30 days. The state of emergency was first declared earlier this month when President Yameen defied a Supreme Court ruling to reinstall opposition members of parliament and release political prisoners.
Reuters reports that, since the state of emergency was first issued, the government has moved to arrest the chief justice, another Supreme Court judge and former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on charges of attempting to usurp power. President Yameen has also jailed opposition members and fired two police chiefs who said that they would uphold the court rulings.
Since the state of emergency was first declared luxury hotels in the destination have maintained that it would not affect the resort islands, which are far from the capital of Malé. The Four Seasons reports that its hotels in the Maldives, including the Four Seasons Kuda Huraa, Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru, Four Seasons Private Island at Voavah and Four Seasons Explorer, are continuing to operate as usual.
The Maldives Ministry of Tourism reports that all international airports, including Velana International Airport and all domestic airports, will continue to maintain full operation.
The State Department’s travel advisory for the Maldives, which was updated after the state of emergency was first declared, remains at level 2 out of 4: Exercise Increased Caution. The State Department cited the risk of terrorism in its advisory, noting that attacks may target tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls and local government facilities. Travelers are advised to continue monitoring local media, remain aware of their surroundings and stay alert in locations frequented by Westerners.
CNN reports that Maldives President Abdulla Yameen declared a state of emergency after defying a Supreme Court ruling to reinstall opposition MPs and release political prisoners. Security forces have “blockaded and locked the Supreme Court building from outside,” according to former Attorney General Husnu Al Suood. In a televised address, Yameen said that the Supreme Court had acted “hastily” and that his actions were designed to prevent a coup.
The Maldives Ministry of Tourism reports that the state of emergency will be in place for the next 15 days, but that all tourism related businesses “will be operating as usual and the situation in the Maldives remains stable.”
“The State of Emergency does not force any restrictions on traveling to the Maldives or within the Maldives,” the Ministry of Tourism said. “All international airports including Velana International Airport [also known as Malé International Airport] and all domestic airports, tourist resorts, tourist hotels, tourist guest houses, tourist accommodating vessels (safari boats), marinas are in full operation. International and domestic flights, sea plane operations and all modes of transport are in operation.”
On its website the Four Seasons Resorts Maldives wrote that it is continuing to operate as usual, including Four Seasons Kuda Huraa, Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru, Four Seasons Private Island at Voavah and Four Seasons Explorer. The resort noted that political events in the Maldives are typically confined to the capital island of Malé and do not affect the resort islands.
“The situation in the capital is calm,” the Four Seasons resort wrote. “Malé International Airport which is located on another island (Hulhule), separate from the capital, is operating as usual. We do not expect any disruption to air services.”
Related Stories
Hard Rock’s New Maldives Resort Aims Beyond Luxury
The Cool Pool of the Week: Baros Maldives
Four Seasons Private Island Maldives at Voavah to Open in Late 2016
Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort Opens
source: Travel Agent Central (https://www.travelagentcentral.com/)
