Images

India's elite heads to the Maldives to escape the Covid crisis

India's elite heads to the Maldives to escape the Covid crisis

Maldives reports Indians as the most represented group in their tourism revival, as private jets see a surge in demand in India.
30 Apr, 2021

As Indian hospitals forfeit and cremation centres run out of space, the country's rich overlook the scenes from their Maldives-bound private jets. This is nothing extraordinary, economic inequality is the least surprising thing about the hyper-globalised 21st century, but its neo-liberal ideals manifest in a reality the eyes beg to shy away from. Out of embarrassment, or fear, you ask? We'll let you decide.

The South Asian archipelagic state of the Maldives was a popular tourist destination before the pandemic, and as borders re-opened after initial scares, it was quick to climb back up to the top. Only that this time, the ones carrying the destination back to its lost glory have been India's elite. Since the country opened its borders to tourist in mid-July, India has contributed the most visitors. Recently, as India was ravaged by the virus, countries across the globe banned visitors from the world's largest democracy. The Maldives government, however, allowed them entry but made slight changes in policies for visitors from India.

As per the new policies, travellers arriving from India can now only stay at a resort or a safari boat and are not allowed to check into guesthouses on islands inhabited by locals.

"The geographical location of our islets help us to minimise the (virus) risk," Thoyyib Mohamed, the head of the country's tourism authority, Visit Maldives, told AFP.

"Each islet is a self-contained single resort. Even if we have a few cases popping up here and there, we can contain it within the resorts without exposing the local population."

Mohamed said that while the arrival of Indian tourists has seen a decline in the past week though they're still the most represented foreign group in their statistics. The country has long been a favourite of Bollywood stars, and most recently Alia Bhatt, her partner Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor took trips to the Maldives, making regular updates via their social media. Private jet firms have found great business in India's wealthy during the ruthless spread of the virus at home, as they've witnessed a sharp surge in demands from tourists seeking to go to Europe, the Middle East and the Maldives.

"It’s not only the ultra rich," Rajan Mehra, head New Delhi-based private plane firm Club One Air told The Print. "Whoever can afford to take a private jet are taking private jets."

On Friday, India broke its own record, yet again, with over 386,000 cases reported, with approximately 3,500 people reported to have lost their lives. With these stats it is integral to also take note of the fact that these numbers are grossly underreported.

Tourism is Maldives largest industry, so it's not a surprise the island nation was quick to reopen borders in a bid to protect itself financially. The industry provides for more than 28% of GDP and 60% of foreign exchange, as reported by Global Edge at the Michigan State University.

"The Covid-19 pandemic is the largest shock to have ever hit the Maldives’ economy. The government closed borders between end-March to mid-July 2020, resulting in a sudden stop of tourist inflow. To mitigate the adverse welfare impacts of the crisis, the government spent $187 million or about 4.7 percent of estimated 2020 GDP on special financing facilities for firms and freelance workers, monthly income support allowances, and discounted utility bills," reads a World Bank report.

The nations aspires to be the first in the world with a fully vaccinated tourism industry. It has taken on the ambitious project of vaccinating its entire 50,000 workforce in the tourism and hospitality industries. Mohamed told the media that about 90% of the workers were already vaccinated. In addition to these workers, the nation's health ministry reports that two-thirds of its 330,000 people had also received their first doses of the vaccine.

Though the country is witnessing a spike in its cases, it has only reported approximately 30,000 cases since the pandemic broke out, and 73 deaths.

Comments

Ali Mehdi Apr 30, 2021 06:25pm
Maldives performing an act of trapeze
Recommend
bhaRAT© Apr 30, 2021 06:49pm
Virus doesn't differentiate between rich and poor. Now they will create havoc in this small island nation by carrying the virus with them. All countries should ban inbound traffic from India to stop "double mutant" spreading!
Recommend
HashBrown® Apr 30, 2021 07:11pm
"This is nothing extraordinary, economic inequality is the least surprising thing about the hyper-globalised 21st century..." It's always amusing to see how reluctant Dawn is to put the spotlight on Hindustan itself. Economic inequality exists literally everywhere, but on no scale similar to what is seen in that country. Just call a spade a spade for once, instead of rambling on about hyper-globalisation.
Recommend
Ignorant Apr 30, 2021 07:34pm
See how Indian trolls justify the move below
Recommend
Ignorant Apr 30, 2021 07:52pm
Let’s hope Maldivians are not being penny wise and pound foolish.
Recommend
A Apr 30, 2021 08:05pm
Many Indians are flying to Russia to get vaccinated on arrival and spend one Monroe vacation.
Recommend
kp Apr 30, 2021 08:10pm
@Ignorant Everyone who earns money have every right to spend it, dond get envy, try hard
Recommend
Zak Apr 30, 2021 08:16pm
As per the new policies, travellers arriving from India can now only stay at a resort or a safari boat and are not allowed to check into guesthouses on islands inhabited by locals. Even Maldives don't want them. Isolated.
Recommend
Saif Zulfiqar Apr 30, 2021 08:25pm
Now India will destroy Maldive.
Recommend
well-wisher Apr 30, 2021 09:11pm
Maldive, make sure you are protected against Covid-19 arriving from India. Help the Indians cope with the spread that is uncontrollable.
Recommend
Parvez Apr 30, 2021 09:59pm
For them its worth considering the lesson .... you can run but you can't hide.
Recommend
Gaurangkumar Apr 30, 2021 10:19pm
They will spread it in Maldives unless they follow basic norms of covid 19. We here in NJ has witnessed arrival of double mutant from India.
Recommend
Zunaira Apr 30, 2021 10:36pm
Maldives should have imposed all kinds of travel ban from India already!
Recommend
Murtaza Apr 30, 2021 10:50pm
No where is the gap and divide greater between the classes and the castes than in india
Recommend
Hawk Apr 30, 2021 11:54pm
Please stop them coming to Maldives.
Recommend
Irfan Shah May 01, 2021 12:51am
The elite class can temporarily escape to Maldives, but can't escape death! Private jets crash, their engines fail and technical faults occur, death stalks them.
Recommend
Changez Khan May 01, 2021 02:40am
You can run but you cannot hide, this virus will chase you wherever you go even on top of Mount Everest. This virus travels in the air.
Recommend
SidC May 01, 2021 04:50am
@Ignorant Don’t you spend money and used all resources to save yourself and your family. Nothing wrong with it. Every Pakistani want to go western countries so they can live better life. Same situation
Recommend
FAZ May 01, 2021 05:33am
@Murtaza Lets see where the greed takes them
Recommend
Today May 01, 2021 05:53am
@Zak Maldives is dependent on India in many aspects not just tourism. It is not a fair weather ally or friend or follower. Check history of both countries to see how long they go. No point getting jealous over petty things
Recommend
Zak May 01, 2021 06:12am
The 2 or 3 elite ran off to Maldives and left the rest poverty stricken population to fall to the disease.
Recommend
Zak May 01, 2021 06:13am
Only that this time, the ones carrying the destination back to its lost glory have been India's elite. What! Both of them?
Recommend
Baiju as May 01, 2021 06:52am
@HashBrown® as if Pakistan is mecca of socialism, where there is no economical disparity among its populace
Recommend
P Nag May 01, 2021 08:26am
Bunch of escapists. They stay in India to earn money. Their mentality is like colonial era people.
Recommend
Rana Talukdar May 01, 2021 08:31am
Grapes are sour (gold) coins r pure.
Recommend
Junaid May 01, 2021 08:38am
Funny how indian government banned gathering at khawaja nizam uddin shrine and rightly so but allowed kumb mela. Double standards.
Recommend
Anonymouseee May 01, 2021 11:08am
Meanwhile the poor and hungry continue to die in India in record numbers. Shameless.
Recommend
HashBrown® May 01, 2021 11:46am
@Baiju as "as if Pakistan is mecca of socialism, where there is no economical disparity among its populace" Compared to your country, I'm afraid we are. We have just committed a huge amount of our national revenue towards a massive social welfare project - instead of a couple of Rafales and a giant statue of our PM.
Recommend
Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad May 03, 2021 02:24pm
When the boat starts sinking, rats are the first to jump the ship.
Recommend
Mr. Sindhi May 05, 2021 11:03am
If were an elite!
Recommend
Gah May 05, 2021 12:55pm
@HashBrown® your national revenue itself is not a huge amount, unfortunately.
Recommend
Kalim May 05, 2021 06:00pm
Who does not have a right to protect themselves. All the obnoxious commentators here should ask themselves what they would do if they could. Are celebrities no longer humans like you and I? What is humanity coming to? It is so sad that we are letting this virus kill the lives of the most vulnerable and the brain of the imbecile ... please have mercy on your mentalities.
Recommend
Taj Ahmad May 05, 2021 07:01pm
Life safety is very important, hope India and rest of the world will get rid off this pandamic very soon.
Recommend
Zak May 05, 2021 09:51pm
Now Indians are carrying the dangerous Indian strain to little Maldives. There goes that holiday destination for the rest of the world.
Recommend