K. Male'
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20 Aug 2021 | Fri 14:49
Maldives aims to welcome 1.3 million tourist arrivals this ongoing year
Maldives aims to welcome 1.3 million tourist arrivals this ongoing year
Velana Airport
Tourist arrivals for 2021
Maldives inches closer to tourist arrival target as figure exceeds 700,000-mark
 
This is an 80 percent increase from the previous year, however, a 35.4 percent decline in comparison to 2019
 
700,594 visitors have been welcomed so far this year
 
Maldives aims to welcome 1.3 million tourist arrivals this ongoing year

Maldives is inching closer to its tourist arrivals target for 2021, as the figures cross the 700,000-mark.

By Wednesday, a total of 700,594 tourists were welcomed in the Maldives since the start of the promising year, according to the latest weekly statistics by the Ministry of Tourism.

Statistics indicate that tourist arrivals recorded so far this year is an increase of 80 percent in comparison to the same period last year. It is however, a 35.4 percent plunge in comparison to the over one million arrivals of 2019, a groundbreaking year for Maldives tourism.

An average of 3,046 visitors are arriving in the Maldives daily with their stay period recorded at an average of nine days.

Of the total arrivals figure recorded so far this year, 92,103 tourist arrivals were recorded during January and 96,882 visitors were welcomed during February. Arrivals in March were the highest recorded on a monthly basis since borders were reopened for international travel on 15 July 2020. In April Maldives welcomed 91,200 arrivals, followed by 64,613 visitors in May.

The number dropped to 56,166 during the month that followed, which the ministry believed to be linked to the restrictions and precautionary measures implemented in the face of a worsening Covid-19 situation as a fourth and more infectious wave was confirmed in early May.

July saw 101,818 visitors welcomed into the Maldives, making it the second highest figure recorded so far in 2021.

88,227 visitors were welcomed between 1 -18 August, this number is 2.6 percent lower than the over 90,000 arrivals recorded the same period in 2019.

Continuing to dominate the Maldives tourism markets, Russia currently contributes 22 percent with 154,380 arrivals so far. The country was ranked sixth in Maldives top 10 tourism markets before the Covid-19 pandemic started sweeping across the globe last year.

Arrivals from Russia have been highest since arrivals from India, the top source market recorded by the Maldives since border reopening, started declining following the travel restrictions imposed on visitors from South Asia back in May as the Covid-19 situation in the region worsened.

India makes up 18.9 percent with 132,745 arrivals recorded by Wednesday. Third comes Germany contributing 5.7 percent with 39,948.

United States, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Kazakhstan, United Kingdom and France are also considered some of the biggest tourist markets for the Maldives.

By Wednesday, arrivals from these countries were recorded at:

  • America contributing 4.1 percent with 28,558 arrivals
  • Ukraine contributing 3.8 percent with 26,612 arrivals
  • Saudi Arabia contributing 3.3 percent with 22,919 arrivals
  • Spain contributing 2.8 percent with 19,270 arrivals
  • Kazakhstan contributing 2.5 percent with 17,293 arrivals
  • UK contributing 2.4 percent with 17,031 arrivals
  • France contributing two percent with 13,912 arrivals

So far, Emirates remains the top airline carrying passengers to Maldives, having flown 141.055 passengers within the review period. Qatar follows closely at its tail with 121.439 passengers and Aeroflot comes at third, having flown 93,352 passengers into the Maldives so far. Top International Chartered Flights operating to the Maldives include Air Astana, Azur Air Ukraine and Gullivair among eight others.

Maldives exceeded last year’s total during July this year and the ministry notes that the country’s arrival rate is gaining momentum as restrictions placed in the face of Covid-19, have been eased.

Tourist arrivals have begun to bounce back with the easing of travel restrictions as well as safety measures against Covid-19, with Minister of Tourism Dr. Abdulla Mausoom even revealing that India is expected to be the country’s top source market by the end of the year, despite a drastic drop in arrivals from the neighboring country in the last few months. Authorities halted issuing on arrival visas to travelers from South Asia in May. This was resumed on July 15 as announced by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

During 2020, Maldives recorded 555,494 tourist arrivals, which was a drastic plunge from the previous year’s 1,702,887 arrivals.

Maldives aims to welcome 1.3 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.

Last updated at: 4 months ago
Reviewed by: Aishath Shaany
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