The tourist arrivals figure recorded so far in November 2021 is a three percent increase from the same period in 2019.
According to the latest figures publicized by the Ministry of Tourism, tourist arrivals between November 1 – 10 surpassed the 45,724 arrivals recorded in the same period in 2019, and sat at 47,076 by Wednesday’s end.
Further, the ministry revealed that November’s arrivals this year are a 364 percent increase from the same period in 2020.
A daily average of 4,708 tourists are visiting Maldives this month, with their stay period recorded at an average of eight days.
Maldives crossed the one millionth tourist arrival target for the year on October 29. A total of 1,060,004 tourists were welcomed in the Maldives between January 1 – November 10. With this Maldives is inching closer to its tourist arrivals target for the ongoing year, set at 1.3 million.
Total arrivals for the year are a 144 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 26 percent in comparison to the arrivals recorded during the same period in 2019, a groundbreaking year for Maldives tourism.
Tourist arrivals are being maintained at an average of 3,376 on a daily basis this year, with their stay period recorded at an average of nine days.
A colorful celebration was held at the airport to welcome the one millionth tourist of the year. Minister of Tourism Dr. Abdulla Mausoom revealed that yet another page of the remarkable success story of Maldives tourism had been turned with the milestone. He added that reaching the milestone two months ahead was a remarkable achievement, further adding that the success would not have been possible without the support from the government, industry partners and employees as well as health professionals, local councils, related ministries and authorities.
Of the total arrivals figure recorded so far this year:
- 92,103 tourist arrivals were recorded during January
- 96,882 tourist arrivals were recorded during February
- 109,585 tourist arrivals were recorded during March
- 91,200 tourist arrivals were recorded during April
- 64,613 tourist arrivals were recorded during May
- 56,166 tourist arrivals were recorded during June
- 101,818 tourist arrivals were recorded during July
- 143,599 tourist arrivals were recorded during August
- 114,896 tourist arrivals were recorded during September
- 142,066 tourist arrivals were recorded during October
At a time the tourism minister had revealed that arrivals from India are expected to grow to top the markets by the end of the year, India remains top source market for Maldives tourism currently dominating 22.5 percent with 238,290 arrivals.
Russia follows closely at second contributing 18.4 percent with 194,527 tourists. Third comes Germany contributing seven percent with 74,431 arrivals.
Other top tourism markets so far in 2021 are:
- U.S. contributing 4.1 percent with 43,093 arrivals,
- United Kingdom contributing 3.3 percent with 35,201 arrivals,
- Saudi Arabia contributing 3.2 percent with 34,189 arrivals,
- Spain contributing 2.9 percent with 31,256 arrivals,
- Ukraine contributing 2.9 percent with 30,492 arrivals,
- France contributing two percent with 21,303 arrivals,
- Kazakhstan contributing 1.9 percent with 19,958 arrivals.
During 2020, Maldives recorded 555,494 tourist arrivals, which was a drastic plunge from the previous year’s 1,702,887 arrivals.
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.
