Maldives is expecting to surpass its tourist arrival target before the year concludes.

Latest weekly figures publicized by the Ministry of Tourism reveal that a total of 1,271,020 tourists were welcomed at the Velana International Airport between January 1 and December 22.

With this the tourist arrivals target of 1.3 billion is expected to be reached before the year draws to a close.

The ministry’s statistics revealed that tourist arrivals recorded so far this year, is a 143.4 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 22.8 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 3,570 on a daily basis this year, with their stay period recorded at an average of eight days.

Between December 1 – 22, Maldives recorded 113,367 arrivals, which is an increase of 79.8 percent in comparison to the same period of 2020, however, it is a 2.2 percent decline from the over 115,000 arrivals recorded in the same period in 2019.

During the concluding month, an average of 5,153 daily arrivals are being maintained, with their stay period recorded at 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. 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 first broke its monthly tourist arrivals records with figures topping 143,599 in August. It now stands the second highest figure.

In September, Maldives welcomed 114,896 tourists.

The third highest figure was recorded in October, at 142,066 visitors.

A record-breaking total of 144,725 tourist arrivals were welcomed during November, making it the highest monthly figure recorded so far this year.

Maldives crossed the one millionth tourist arrival target for the year on October 29 and Minister of Tourism Dr. Abdulla Mausoom revealed that the country will easily surpass the target set for the year.

A colorful celebration was held at the airport to welcome the one millionth tourist of the year. Minister 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.

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 286,434 arrivals.

Russia follows closely at second contributing 16.9 percent with 214,232 tourists. Third comes Germany contributing 7.1 percent with 90,732 arrivals.

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

Maldives is gearing up to mark 50 years since the tourism industry’s inception, in 2022, to be celebrated as the golden year of tourism in Maldives.