Maldives welcomes over 448,000 tourists by Thursday

Tourist arrivals recorded so far in 2021 by the Maldives has topped 448,154.

Latest statistics publicized by the Ministry of Tourism on Sunday reveal that 448,154 visitors had been welcome at the Velana International Airport between January 1 – May 27.

Of this, 58,384 visitors have been welcomed so far this ongoing month, which is 35.8 percent less than the number recorded the same period in 2019, where 90,971tourist arrivals were recorded.

Owing to the closing down of borders on 27 March 2020, the number of tourist arrivals recorded from January 1 – May 27 last year was slightly lower. As such, 382,775 visitors were recorded within the period.

According to statistics, visitors are staying for an average of nine days and an average of 3,049 tourists are visiting the Maldives every day.

Maldives celebrated over 100,000 tourist arrivals during March, the highest monthly arrivals recorded since borders were reopened for international travel on 15 July 2020. As such, 109,585 tourist visited Maldives during March. During January 2021, Maldives welcomed 92,103 visitors. The number escalated to 96,882 in February 2021 and 91,200 visitors were welcomed during April.

The highest arrivals this ongoing month was recorded on May 1 at 3,815 visitors. The lowest arrivals were recorded at 1,251 on May 26. On Sunday Maldives recorded 2,480 arrivals, 1,310 on Monday, 1,473 on Tuesday and 1,345 on Thursday.

With arrivals from India, the top source market recorded by the Maldives since border reopening, declining due to the worsening Covid-19 situation in the country, Russia currently dominates the arrival market contributing 23.1 percent with 103,042 arrivals by Wednesday. Russia was ranked sixth before the Covid-19 pandemic began sweeping across the globe and is followed closely by India making up 20 percent with 89,365 arrivals by May 26. Third comes Germany contributing 5.5 percent of tourist arrivals. 24,718 tourist arrivals were recorded from Germany by Wednesday.

Ukraine, Kazakhstan, United States, Romania, United Kingdom, Czech Republic and France are also considered some of the biggest tourist markets for the Maldives.

The ministry boasts increasing tourist arrivals, which were snail-paced into the beginning of the country’s tourism-revival journey. As such, an optimistic tourism ministry revealed that the source markets are recovering, with “impressive” results.

Maldives aims to welcome 1.5 million tourist arrivals this ongoing year and is gearing up to mark 50 years since the tourism industry’s inception, in 2022, which is to be celebrated as the golden year of tourism in Maldives.