Tourist arrivals recorded within the first few days of January 2022 have seen a growth of 56.4 percent in comparison to the same period in 2021.

The Ministry of Tourism publicized its most recent weekly figures on Friday, revealing that 24,527 tourists were welcomed into the Maldives between January 1 – 5, which is a growth of 56.4 percent in comparison to the 15,680 visitors welcomed during the same period in 2021. The figure is a few thousands less than the 27,314 arrivals recorded during 2020, but higher in comparison to the 22,121 arrivals recorded in the same period of 2019.

The statistics go on to indicate that tourists are staying in the Maldives for an average of nine days this promising year, with daily arrivals being maintained at an average of 4,905.

The average duration stay recorded during 2019 was six and in the year that followed, it rose to seven. 2021 saw tourists spending an average of eight days in the archipelago nation.

During 2020, Maldives recorded 555,494 tourist arrivals, which was a drastic plunge from the previous year’s 1,702,887 arrivals. Maldives met its tourist arrival target for 2021 in late December and welcomed a total of 1,321,932 tourists by the end of the year.

Maldives reached its tourist arrivals target for 2021 with the arrival of Romanian national Constantin Stelian Emil on December 27. A colorful celebration was held at the airport to welcome Emil, who arrived via a GullivAir flight with his spouse and two children. Emil and wife spent their honeymoon in the Maldives five years ago and are ecstatic to be back in the Maldives.

Although India was the top source market for Maldives tourism by the end of 2021, the neighboring country currently ranks fourth in the top 10 markets for the Golden Jubilee of Tourism year. The chart is topped by Russia currently, boasting 27.3 percent of the total arrivals figure, with 6,700 visitors having been recorded by January 5. Following at Russia’s tail is Italy with 3,162 visitors and contributing 12.9 percent.

Third comes Germany contributing 6.8 percent with 1,665 arrivals.

Before coronavirus began sweeping across the globe, the top 10 markets for Maldives tourism in 2019 were China, India, Italy, Germany, United Kingdom, Russia, France, United States, Japan and Australia.

The ministry recently facilitated the introduction of Homestay in the Maldives as well, with the first of its kind launched in Dhiggaru island of Meemu atoll.

This comes under the president’s tourism development vision and policy to make tourism and its benefits to the island communities, accessible.

The first tourists under the homestay concept were welcomed to “Moorithi” guesthouse in Dhiggaru, by Minister of Tourism Dr. Abdulla Mausoom, MP for Dhiggaru constituency Ikram Hassan, President of the Island Council Ahmed Nishan, Atoll Council President Ahmed Nimal, President of the Guesthouse Association of Maldives Abdulla Nasheed, President of the Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators Abdulla Suood and the Managing Director of FENAKA Corporation Ahmed Saeed Mohamed as well as senior officials at the tourism ministry on January 1.

Among the first five homestay tourists included the UN Resident Coordinator for Maldives Catherine Haswell as well as couples from Sudan and the U.S.

It has been 50 years since zealous travelers have been visiting the Maldives which has been drawing in visitors with its picturesque beauty for years. Maldives marks 50 years since the tourism industry’s inception, in 2022, dubbed the golden year of tourism in Maldives.

Dr. Mausoom earlier revealed that Maldives aims to win the World Leading Destination Award during the golden jubilee year as well and expressed hope to reach newer heights in the tourism success story with the inception of the Homestay tourism.

Promotional activities launched into the beginning of the concluding year, with the ministry’s social media accounts flooded with video clips featuring messages by senior industry officials as well as industry workers.