Maldiverna

Översikt

The Maldives, officially the Republic of Maldives, is an island nation formed by a double chain of 26 atolls south of India's Lakshadweep islands in the Indian Ocean. The Maldives faces relatively low security threats in nearly all assessment areas. The country lies around 700km southwest of Sri Lanka and southern India. The Maldives are the smallest Asian nation, both in terms of population size and land area. With an average ground level of 1.5m above sea, the Maldives is the lowest country in the world.

In early 2018, a political crisis also erupted in the country amid tension between the judiciary and the government in which a state of emergency was later declared. A presidential election in September 2018 saw the surprise victory of opposition candidate, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih who defeated his rival Abdullah Yameen. The change of leadership was described as turning point in the region that has long seen the growing influence of China.

Hälsa, sjukdomar och vaccination

Travellers need to make sure their routine vaccinations are up to date (polio; varicella; measles, mumps and rubella; tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis). See a travel health practitioner 6 to 8 weeks before departure for destination-specific health preparations. Additional vaccinations may be necessary, some of which require several doses, or be recommended malaria medication which may need to be started a week or more before arriving in the malarial country.

Dehydration and salt deficiency can cause heat exhaustion. Take the time to acclimatise to high temperatures, drink sufficient liquids and avoid doing anything too physically demanding. Salt deficiency is characterised by fatigue, lethargy, headaches, giddiness and muscle cramps; salt tablets may help, but adding extra salt to your food is better.

Heatstroke conditions can occur if the body’s heat-regulating mechanism breaks down and the body temperature rises to dangerous levels. Long, continuous periods of exposure to high temperatures and insufficient fluids can leave you vulnerable to heatstroke.

Mosquitoes vary from non-existent to very troublesome depending on which island you are on and what time of year it is. In general, mosquitoes are not a big problem because there are few areas of open fresh water where they can breed. However, they can be a problem at certain times of the year (usually after heavy rainfall). During this times use repellent or burn mosquito coils. You can buy them from resort shops but they are expensive. Therefore, it is advisable to carry on your own. 

Dengue fever, a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes, occurs in Maldivian villages but is not a significant risk on resort islands or in the capital.

Most resorts have a resident doctor, or share one with another nearby resort. However, if you are seriously unwell it will be necessary to go to Male or to the nearest atoll capital with a hospital. The Maldivian health service relies heavily on doctors, nurses and dentists from overseas, and facilities outside the capital are very limited.

Pass

All travellers must have a passport with at least six months validity from the date of arrival.

Visum

No pre-arrival visa is required to enter Maldives. A 30-day visa can be issued on arrival for all nationalities,, provided the following conditions are met: 1. should possess a valid passport; 2. have a valid ticket to continue the journey out of Maldives; and 3. have enough funds to cover the expenses for duration of the stay in Maldives or a confirmation of reservation in a tourist resort or hotel.