The Maldives was the first country to offer quarantine-free stays for anyone who is vaccinated. In an effort to draw even more visitors, it also has plans to offer vaccines to tourists on arrival—once all residents have had the opportunity to receive a jab, of course. And there are plenty of other reasons to keep an eye on these electric blue atolls. The latest man-made Maldivian archipelago, Fari Islands, features restaurants, boutiques and a beach club, accessible to guests from the islands’ newly opened luxury resorts: Patina Maldives and the Ritz-Carlton Maldives. The most extensive coral-regeneration project in the Maldives can be found at the eco-friendly favorite Velaa Private Island. And in 2022, construction begins on a pioneering floating city, created to stave off rising sea levels. —Katie Lockhart
- Donald Trump Is TIME's 2024 Person of the Year
- Why We Chose Trump as Person of the Year
- Is Intermittent Fasting Good or Bad for You?
- The 100 Must-Read Books of 2024
- The 20 Best Christmas TV Episodes
- Column: If Optimism Feels Ridiculous Now, Try Hope
- The Future of Climate Action Is Trade Policy
- Merle Bombardieri Is Helping People Make the Baby Decision