Island Resorts to Attract Tourists from the Middle East

Island resorts around the world will lead the recovery in leisure travel, according to recent research. Many island economies are dependent on tourism and nowhere is this more apparent than in the Indian Ocean islands of the Maldives (28% of GDP) and the Seychelles (over 55% of GDP), which are both expecting a bumper Easter holiday period. With both islands less than four hours 30 minutes away, Emirates has added an extra four flights taking its weekly schedule to 28 flights.

Meanwhile, Air Seychelles is launching a weekly flight to Dubai to cope with the increased demand, which is in addition to two extra flights a week that Emirates is adding to its existing schedule of five weekly flights to Mahe.

“Both islands tick all of the proverbial boxes for tourists,” said Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market. “Even though demand maybe pent-up, visitors will still want direct flights, easy access, reasonable restrictions, low COVID cases, good vaccination rates, open and in some cases isolated resorts, with a natural environment including quiet beaches,” added Curtis.

• Emirates increases weekly schedule to Maldives & Seychelles over Easter holidays as Middle East demand soars
• Sri Lanka, Cyprus and Greek islands also preparing for summer influx of international arrivals
• Tourists attracted by easy access, reasonable restrictions, low COVID cases, good vaccination rates and a natural environment with quiet beaches

The Maldives is expecting to have its 500,000 inhabitants vaccinated by August and with less than 100,000 citizens, the Seychelles is hoping for 100% vaccination within the coming months.

In Maldives, no quarantine measures are in place, but some resorts may ask travellers to self-isolate when they arrive at their destination island. Travellers do not need to show a negative Covid-19 test upon arriving into the Maldives, but anyone with symptoms may be tested at the airport, at their own expense. All travellers will be given a 30-day tourist visa free of charge upon arrival and there will be no minimum stay required, but tourists must have a confirmed accommodation booking before travelling to the archipelago. Multiple resort stays are not allowed at this time and travellers can only use another hotel or guesthouse if it is for transit purposes when arriving or departing the island.

And although both countries have a list of approved countries, the Seychelles and the Maldives only require visitors to provide a negative PCR test 72 or 96 hours respectively, prior to arrival, no proof of vaccination or quarantine is required.

However, many travel professionals feel that the real game changer is that both countries will accept any fully vaccinated visitors. And with the global rollout expected to accelerate, as more vaccines are approved and manufactured, island nations will be the catalyst for increased international leisure travel.

Other islands with great potential for the Middle East’s outbound market are Sri Lanka, Cyprus and the Greek islands. Emirates and Etihad operate seven flights a week to Colombo and visitors need a negative PCR test 96 hours before arrival and then two further tests within the next seven days. The Sri Lankan government aims to have the entire country of over 21 million vaccinated by the end of 2021, currently that figure stands at around 500,000.

While visitors from all countries can travel to Sri Lanka, tourists must stay at one of the pre-approved “Level 1 Safe and Secure” hotels for up to 14 days, which will be off-limits to all locals except staff. Before applying for a visa to travel to Sri Lanka, tourists must have a confirmed hotel booking at one of Sri Lanka’s Level 1 safety secured hotels, pre-purchased PCR tests and mandatory Covid-19 Insurance Cover. Visitors travelling for up to seven days must pre-purchase two Covid tests, while those staying for seven days or more should purchase three.

The Greek authorities aim to vaccinate the vast majority of their 10.35 million population by this summer (more than 725,000 have been vaccinated so far) to help revive their tourism sector and again Greece is well connected with five weekly flights between Dubai and Athens.