The xenophobia of quarantine tourism

On 19 August, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said that 'quarantine tourism' was a good thing for the Maldives, as long as tourist establishments adhere to the current guidelines put in place by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) against the spread of COVID-19 in the country. 

True, 'quarantine tourism' brings in an increase in the number of tourists visiting the Maldives, as well as dollars, with reports suggesting that tourists in this category spend between approximately USD1,500 to USD2,000 for their stay in the Maldives. Travelers from other South Asian countries to countries such as Canada and the Middle East, because they are not permitted to travel direct from their countries, come to the Maldives, stay for 14 days and then travel onward to their destinations. 

The President's statement comes amidst reports of tourists being brought to the Maldives, under the guise of making bookings at five-star hotels and then being abandoned on the streets of Malé. This has prompted joint inspections by the HPA, the Ministry of Tourism, the Department of Immigration and Emigration, the Maldives Police Service (MPS) and other relevant state authorities, to launch a campaign to monitor and enforce regulations. 

There are also reports of large numbers of 'tourists' being booked into one guesthouse – more than the said guesthouse's established capacity. Are these 'tourists' doing so themselves, or is it the Maldivian owners of these guesthouses, or a Maldivian in league with certain foreigners in the country, who are making these arrangements. 

One guesthouse owner in Maafushi told this publication of how an acquaintance had approached him to 'register' some inbound 'quarantine' tourists at his guesthouse, but in name only. They will be staying at his apartment in Hulhumalé, of course, and he will pocket the money that they pay for their stay. Is it really the fault of the poor worker from neighbouring countries for seeking any way possible to get to their place of employment or is it the Maldivian (who may or may not be in league with foreigners) who seek to make a buck in any way possible, without regard to the health consequences, to amass as much dollars as they can possibly earn, ready for the next possible lockdown or border closure. 

Then there are the locals talking about these 'quarantine tourists' – in derogatory terms; but let us take a step back. They are also trying to earn a living in whatever limited means they can. 

If it was American or British or even Russian tourists who came to the Maldives to spend their quarantine, will there be so much xenophobic sentiments pouring out against them? What is it that makes us have so much hatred, so much disdain against laborers or non-upper-class citizens from neighbouring countries? It is not like we do not flock to India and Sri Lanka for medical treatment, education, shopping, or in the case of some of our esteemed MPs – just a hop over to Colombo for a night at the casinos. 

One might say it is because the Indians have taken over. That they have designs over the Maldives – to make us subservient. That this is the Maldivians' reaction to Indian political ambitions. But then, when we really think about it, can anyone from abroad, whether a foreign power or an individual, come into the Maldives unless the state lets them? Do they not have to go through the same border controls, same PCR test, have the same vaccine requirements as the European tourists? If so, why the discrimination? They are not, after all, coming to the Maldives for free. 

Let us stop this xenophobia and lay the blame where it is due – with the policymakers who failed to put in place the required controls and monitoring mechanisms; and some individuals and businesses, seeking to make a quick buck.