Despite a drastic drop in arrivals from neighboring India over the past couple of months, Minister of Tourism Abdulla Mausoom has revealed that India is expected to be the country’s top source market by the end of the year.

Speaking on RaajjeTV’s “Viyafaaru Miadhu” programme, Minister Mausoom said that India had remained the top source market recorded by the Maldives since border reopening, until Maldives temporarily closed borders for travelers from South Asian countries due to the worsening Covid-19 situation in the region.

He noted that Russia topped India and dominated the arrival market during the past few months, however, once tourists start arriving into the country from India since borders have been reopened, by the end of the year the arrival market will be led by India.

The tourism minister highlighted that arrivals from India are expected to be higher than Russia due to geographical benefits. However he noted that arrivals from Russia will not drop significantly, as efforts are currently underway to promote Maldives tourism among the Russian market.

Highlighting that promoting Maldives tourism is also ongoing in middle-eastern nations, Mausoom revealed that arrivals from the region are also improving significantly.

So far this year, Russia dominates the arrival market contributing 24.3 percent. India falls short contributing 16.5 percent and some of the biggest tourist markets for the Maldives also include Germany, Ukraine, United States, Kazakhstan, United Kingdom, France, Romania as well as Saudi Arabia.

Tourist arrivals from South Asia 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 was resumed on July 15, but only to those traveling to resort.

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.