Hong Kong issues travel advisory for Maldives

Wednesday, May 4th, 2011

Ahmed Nishwan

International media has reported that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government Tuesday issued an amber Outbound Travel Alert (OTA) for those intending to visit Maldives.

Miadhu Daily understands that the Hong Kong government took the decision in light of the recent mass protests and demonstrations held continuously every night in the capital.

A Hong Kong government spokesman said: “Those who plan to visit the Maldives or are already there should monitor the situation and exercise caution.”

According to reports the Security Bureau of Hong Kong will closely monitor the situation in Maldives. Residents who need assistance while outside Hong Kong may call the 24-hour hotline of the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of the Immigration Department, according to the spokesman.

The Hong Kong government established the OTA system to help its citizens better understand matters about personal safety when traveling to some 80 popular destinations.

Its color indicates the level of possible security threats, with amber being the lowest, red being the medium and black the highest, under which citizens should avoid all travels to the destination.

In view of this decision of the Hong Kong government, Minister of Tourism Dr. Mariyam Zulfa said that it is concern that the country is facing such matters in a time the number of tourists visiting the country has decreased with the end of Maldivian Tourism Season.

“We are concerned of the shortage of foreign currency. We ourselves have closed the doors to earn foreign currency. This is a very sad situation,” Dr. Zulfa said.

Minister Zulfa said that the resorts are doing their utmost to regain the loss of the ‘off-season’. “If we are to face such issues, then how troublesome will that be? It is unimaginable,” she said.

Countries make travel advisory as a step of precaution. However, since Maldives is an island archipelago, the tourist resorts are safe from the affects of the protests and demonstrations held in the capital island.

Reader Comments

Post a comment

 characters available



The opinions expressed here are those of the individual authors and commenters and do not necessarily represent the views of Miadhu News Daily. We do not take responsibility for the opinions, facts, or claims presented by individual authors or commenters, and reserve the right to moderate or delete inappropriate comments.

Miadhu Opinion Poll
  • Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.