Tourist arrivals so far in the Golden Jubilee Year of tourism have surpassed the 500,000-mark.
This was revealed by the Ministry of Tourism in its latest weekly statistics, publicized on April 21.
The statistics revealed that the country saw 531,019 arrivals between January 1 – April 20, of which 131,764 tourists were welcomed during January and 149,008 arrivals were recorded in February, followed by 150,739 arrivals in March.
So far in April, Maldives has welcomed 99,508 tourists, which is a 55 percent growth compared to the arrivals recorded in 2021. However, it is a 6.4 percent decrease from the figure recorded in 2019.
In addition to this, the total arrival figure so far this year is a 46.4 percent increase compared to the arrivals recorded in 2021. It his however, a 9.9 percent decrease from the 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 eight days this promising year, with daily arrivals being maintained at an average of 4,827. The daily arrival average remains at 4,975 this month.
Daily tourist arrivals recorded so far in April are as follows:
- 4,888 tourist arrivals were recorded on April 1
- 5,022 tourist arrivals were recorded on April 2
- 6,147 tourist arrivals were recorded on April 3
- 4,822 tourist arrivals were recorded on April 4
- 4,602 tourist arrivals were recorded on April 5
- 3,487 tourist arrivals were recorded on April 6
- 4,217 tourist arrivals were recorded on April 7
- 5,107 tourist arrivals were recorded on April 8
- 6,463 tourist arrivals were recorded on April 9
- 6,522 tourist arrivals were recorded on April 10
- 5,652 tourist arrivals were recorded on April 11
- 5,426 tourist arrivals were recorded on April 12
- 4,369 tourist arrivals were recorded on April 13
- 4,918 tourist arrivals were recorded on April 14
- 5,141 tourist arrivals were recorded on April 15
- 5,106 tourist arrivals were recorded on April 16
- 5,166 tourist arrivals were recorded on April 17
- 4,426 tourist arrivals were recorded on April 18
- 4,362 tourist arrivals were recorded on April 19
Statistics go on to reveal that although Russia maintained its position as the top source market for Maldives tourism over the past few months, the country’s market has toppled and been replaced with the United Kingdom.
As such, the figures revealed that as of April 20, UK contributes the greatest number of arrivals to the Maldives so far, contributing 13.1 percent of the total arrival count between January 1 – April 20 with 69,808 arrivals.
Second comes India, contributing 11.2 percent with 59,404 arrivals. Russia ranks third contributing 10.3 percent with 54,624 arrivals.
Although Ukraine was included among the top 10 markets for Maldives tourism earlier, it has since been replaced. Arrivals from Ukraine have been plummeting due to the ongoing conflict.
Other top tourism markets so far in 2022 are:
- Germany contributing 8.9 percent with 47,287 arrivals,
- Italy contributing 7.1 percent with 37,751 arrivals,
- United States contributing 4.6 percent with 24,171 arrivals,
- France contributing 4.5 percent with 23,805 arrivals,
- Switzerland contributing 2.7 percent with 14,241 arrivals,
- Austria contributing 2.1 percent with 11,074 arrivals,
- Saudi Arabia contributing 1.9 percent with 10,208 arrivals,
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.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in his presidential address on February 3, revealed that Maldives aims to welcome 1.6 million tourists this year.
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.
Minister of Tourism, Dr. Abdulla 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 introduction of Homestay tourism.
