Maldives has broken its monthly tourist arrivals records once again, with figures topping 120,529 so far in August.

According to the latest weekly statistics by the Ministry of Tourism, 120,529 tourist arrivals have been recorded between August 1 – 25, making it the highest number of arrivals on a monthly basis since borders were reopened for international travel on 15 July 2020.

August’s arrivals are a 0.2 percent increase from the 120,341 arrivals recorded during the same period in 2019.

By Wednesday, a total of 732,896 tourists were welcomed in the Maldives since the start of the promising year, with which Maldives is inching closer to its tourist arrivals target of 1.3 million for 2021. During 2020, Maldives recorded 555,494 tourist arrivals, which was a drastic plunge from the previous year’s 1,702,887 arrivals.

An average of 3,096 visitors are arriving in the Maldives daily with their stay period recorded at an average of nine days.

Statistics indicate that tourist arrivals recorded so far this year is an increase of 87.4 percent in comparison to the same period last year. It is however, a 34.3 percent plunge in comparison to the over one million arrivals of 2019, a groundbreaking year for Maldives tourism.

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 at 109,585 making it the second highest figure recorded so far in 2021. 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.

Continuing to dominate the Maldives tourism markets, Russia currently contributes 21.5 percent with 157,876 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 19.9 percent with 146,205 arrivals recorded by Wednesday. Third comes Germany contributing 5.7 percent with 42,078.

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

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.

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.

Maldives 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.