With Maldives out of bounds, Egypt, Russia and South Africa remain the only popular international travel options for Indian tourists amid the coronavirus pandemic. These countries do not have a quarantine requirement for Indian tourists.
On Tuesday, Maldives joined the growing list of countries banning visitors from India due to ongoing second wave of Covid-19 pandemic. The island nation has been a popular leisure destination for Indian travellers who accounted for 21 per cent of all arrivals between January-May.
“We are receiving and processing applications for all categories, including leisure tourists. The destination offers opportunities to enjoy a holiday outside of an urban environment i.e. on safari in the many game parks or to visit rural areas that have now become very popular. Strict adherence to the health and safety protocols are maintained to limit the risk of exposure. The country is at alert level 1 and restaurants and hospitality facilities are open," said Andrea Kühn, South Africa’s consul general in Mumbai.