A safety guideline detailing precautions to reduce mishaps during water sports and other tourist activities in the Maldives has been released by the Ministry of Tourism. In the guidelines, instances that have resulted in catastrophes involving visitors on beach and water-related excursions are addressed.
The ministry said that a formal regulation to guarantee safer procedures during such events would soon be drafted in a circular sent to tourism service providers on Thursday. Meanwhile, the circular outlines safety requirements that must be adhered to by councils, hotels, homestays, guesthouses, tourist vessels, and operators of diving services.
The following specifications are part of the safety standards:
- Before beginning any water sport, participants must receive safety instructions.
- Every piece of aquatic equipment needs to be used for its intended function and adhere to safety regulations.
- Activities must take place in areas that are especially set aside for each sport.
- When participating in water sports, visitors who are not able to swim must wear life jackets.
- Operators need to keep an eye on the weather. If a teacher deems the weather unsafe or the weather service issues a warning, activities must be halted.
- Changes in weather should be marked with surface balloons or flags that are colored in white, yellow, orange, red, or green.
- To guarantee preparedness in the event of an emergency, instructors must keep in touch with the aquatic center.
Service providers must also keep a logbook of all water sports participants, noting their names and passport or identity numbers.
Since tourists are the main participants in beach and water-based activities, the ministry emphasized that these steps are required to lower hazards to them. The actions are a part of continuous initiatives to raise safety standards throughout the Maldives’ tourism industry.
