Due to restrictions and precautionary measures implemented in the face of a worsening Covid-19 situation, Maldives continued to see low tourist arrivals numbers in June.
June saw 56,166 visitors welcomed at Velana International Airport, which is 8,447 less than the 64,613 arrivals recorded in the previous month according to the latest weekly statistics by the Ministry of Tourism.
The ministry’s statistics indicate that visitors are staying for an average of nine days and an average of 2,821 tourists were visiting the Maldives every day.
From January 1 to June 30, Maldives recorded 510,549 arrivals, which is an increase of 33.4 percent in comparison to the same period last year.
Of the over 500,000 arrivals recorded so far this year, 92,103 tourist arrivals were recorded during January and 96,882 visitors were welcomed during February. Tourist arrivals escalated to 109,585 in the month that followed, making it the highest number of tourist arrivals recorded on a monthly basis since borders were reopened for international travel on 15 July 2020. In April Maldives welcomed 91,200 arrivals.
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 24.4 percent with 124,651 arrivals recorded by the end of June.
Russia is followed closely by India making up 17.6 percent with 89,675 arrivals so far this year. Third comes Germany contributing 5.5 percent with 27,838 tourist arrivals by the end of June 2021.
Ukraine, United States, Kazakhstan, United Kingdom, Romania, France and Czech Republic are also considered some of the biggest tourist markets for the Maldives.
By June 30, arrivals from these countries were recorded at:
- Ukraine contributing 4.8 percent with 24,458 arrivals
- America contributing 3.8 percent with 19,540 arrivals
- Kazakhstan contributing 3.3 percent with 16,876 arrivals
- UK contributing 2.7 percent with 13,631 arrivals
- Romania contributing 2.3 percent with 11,729 arrivals
- France contributing 2.1 percent with 10,954 arrivals
- Czech Republic contributing two percent with 10,411 arrivals
The ministry revealed that tourist arrivals had slowed into the beginning of may due to the restrictions placed after a fourth and more infectious wave of coronavirus was confirmed in the Maldives. Authorities halted issuing on arrival visas to travelers from South Asia in May. This could be resumed as early as July 15 as announced by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Tuesday, however, is subject to change depending on situation in respective countries.
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.
Emirates currently remains the top airline flying tourists into the Maldives, having flown a total of 104,612 tourists into Maldives by the end of June. Other top airlines operating flights to the island nation, a popular destination among zealous travelers, include Qatar Airways, Aeroflot, IndiGo, Go Air, Turkish Airlines, Flydubai, Etihad Airways, Lufthansa and Azur Air Russia.
