India remains top source market for Maldives tourism as arrivals from the neighboring country exceed 200,000 for the year.
As the year draws to an end and at a time the Minister of Tourism had revealed that arrivals from India are expected to grow to top the markets by the end of the year, Maldives recorded a total of 204,530 arrivals from India between January 1 – October 5.
India, the top source market of Maldivian tourism through 2020, currently contributes 23 percent of the total arrivals.
Russia follows closely at second contributing 19.6 percent of the arrivals, with 174,095 arrivals by October 5. Third comes Germany contributing 6.3 percent with 55,707 arrivals.
Top 10 tourism markets so far in 2021:
- India contributing 23 percent with 204,530 arrivals
- Russia contributing 19.6 percent with 174,095 arrivals,
- Germany contributing 6.3 percent with 55,707 arrivals
- U.S contributing 4.1 percent with 36,175 arrivals
- Saudi Arabia contributing 3.5 percent with 30,782 arrivals
- Ukraine contributing 3.2 percent with 28,552 arrivals
- Spain contributing three percent with 26,692 arrivals
- United Kingdom contributing 2.2 percent with 19,523 arrivals
- Kazakhstan contributing two percent with 17,714 arrivals
- France contributing 1.9 percent with 16,600 arrivals
By Tuesday, Maldives had welcomed a total of 890,363 arrivals, which is a 120 percent increase from the arrivals recorded in 2020, a sluggish year for Maldives tourism due to border-closure. However, 2021’s arrivals so far are a decrease of 30.2 percent in comparison to the over one million arrivals recorded during the same period in 2019, a groundbreaking year for Maldives tourism.
19,501 visitors have been welcomed at Velana International Airport (VIA) so far in October.
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. 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. In September, Maldives welcomed 114,896 tourists, making it the second highest figure recorded so far in 2021.
Based on the tourism ministry’s statistics, an average of 3,900 tourists are visiting the Maldives every day this month, with their average stay period recorded at eight days.
Tourist arrivals have begun to bounce back with the easing of travel restrictions as well as safety measures against Covid-19.
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.
During 2020, Maldives recorded 555,494 tourist arrivals, which was a drastic plunge from the previous year’s 1,702,887 arrivals.
