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Maldives, a green paradise reopens its borders

2020-07-09T16:38:22.246Z


Sea paradise par excellence, of those who dream (rightly) for a lifetime. Over 1,200 islands and atolls, between white beaches and seabed to be discovered. After three months of closure, the Maldives return to welcome international tourists. (HANDLE)


(by Daniela Giammusso) (ANSA) - ROME, JULY 08 - Sea paradise par excellence, those who dream (rightly) for a lifetime. Over 1,200 islands and atolls, between white beaches and seabed all to be discovered. After three months of closure, the Maldives return to welcome international tourists. The announcement was made by President IbrahimMohamed Solih in a speech to the nation, testifying to how much tourism has been lacking throughout the country.
   Frontiers therefore open from 15 July, the date on which the resorts, liveaboards and hotels located in uninhabited islands will also come back to life. Guesthouse and hotels in the inhabited islands will have to wait until August 1st. No medical certificate required, no mandatory quarantine, health declaration completed on board the aircraft, arrival mask, thermoscanner and safety distances. The download of the national application for tracking contacts is recommended, TraceEkee, while tourists who present suspicious symptoms will be tested at their expense (Info and updates https://www.tourism.gov.mv/ ehttps: // www. foreign.gov.mv/).
   The Maldives therefore return (almost) to "normalcy", giving the green light to the sector that most feeds the internal economy. And it does so by resuming its commitment (even more current after the pandemic) to safeguard the country's delicate and precious ecosystem. Through four firm points, also experiment as tourists. Here they are: Coral reef - One of the most beautiful in the world, but also one of the most threatened.
   Between 2015 and 2016, coral reefs in the Maldives were strongly affected by the phenomenon of coral bleaching, caused when ocean temperatures become unusually high. It happens that corals expel algae that live in their tissues, turn white and can even die. A tragedy that affected 70-90% of the country's coral, but which can be remedied. Already since 2005, the Reefscapers consultancy company has been participating in a pioneering project of "regrowth" of coral around special structures (it can go up to 10-15 centimeters per year). A "self-supporting" method, which is creating new thriving ecosystems for fish and crustaceans and which further fuels the local economy. The necessary supports are in fact designed and produced on an island in the Baa atoll. Even tourists can give a hand. Many resorts offer snorkeling tours and coral transplants.
   SEA - The iron regulations of the Maldives on fishing to maintain the fish population and preserve the incredible underwater life, unfortunately, does not apply in other countries that overlook the Indian Ocean. Thus many turtle recovery centers were born all over the territory, with marine biologists, veterinarians, laboratories, X-rays, ultrasounds and surgical resources to treat the specimens.
   LOCAL COMMUNITIES - Regular cleaning of beaches and coral reefs, development of renewable energy sources, responsible fishing lessons, are just some of the training programs started by resorts and non-governmental organizations to educate the locals on the topic of sustainability.
   PLASTIC and Co. - Index number 1 of the environment.
   President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih announced a year ago to the UN the progressive withdrawal of all disposable plastic items from the country: bottles and bags will be phased out by 2023. In addition, the government will implement a series of measures against the most polluting plastics as a prohibition on use. and taxes, new standards and guidelines for the industry.
   In parallel, the country's first plastics recycling facility built by the non-profit group Parley for the Oceans is already in operation. The "plastic laboratory" is located in the capital Malé and can process up to 500 kilos of material every day. Some resorts have developed their own recycling plants, sometimes even able to innovatively transform plastic bottles into ... bags. (HANDLE).

Source: ansa

All life articles on 2020-07-09

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