The tourist arrival figure for the ongoing month has surpassed the 61,000-mark.

In its latest weekly statistics, the Ministry of Tourism revealed that the arrivals number between September 1 – 15 is a 7.6 percent increase from the figure recorded during the same period in 2019.

As such, 61,421 tourist arrivals were welcomed at Velana International Airport (VIA) by Wednesday. This is also a 1,277.8 percent increase from the 4,458 arrivals recorded the previous year, due to borders having been closed from March 27 – July 15 last year.

The country’s tourist arrival figure sat at 817,387 by Wednesday, which is a 106.1 percent increase from the figure recorded last year, however, it is a 31.4 percent plunge from the over one million arrivals recorded in the same period in 2019.

Maldives is inching closer to its tourist arrivals target of 1.3 million for 2021, with daily arrivals remaining at an average of 4,000 this ongoing month. Tourists are staying in the Maldives for an average of eight 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 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.

Maldives broke its monthly tourist arrivals records with figures topping 143,599 in August.

Tourist arrivals have begun to bounce back with the easing of travel restrictions as well as safety measures against Covid-19.

At a time the Minister of Tourism Dr. Abdulla Mausoom had revealed 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, India has once again topped the charts and currently dominates the tourism markets with 184,236 arrivals recorded by Wednesday. India makes up 22.5 percent of the arrivals.

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.

While Russia continued to dominate the Maldives tourism markets within the first few months of the year after arrivals from India started declining, it currently ranks second with 165,452 arrivals, making up 20.2 percent of the total figure.

Third comes Germany contributing 5.9 percent with 48,571 visitors.

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

Maldives exceeded last year’s total during July this year and the ministry notes that the country’s arrival rate is gaining momentum for the promising year 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.