Tourist arrivals so far in the Golden Jubilee Year of tourism have surpassed the 600,000-mark.

This was revealed by the Ministry of Tourism in its latest daily statistics, publicized on May 10.

The statistics reveal that the country saw 621,633 arrivals between January 1 – May 9, of which 131,764 tourists were welcomed during January and 149,008 arrivals were recorded in February, followed by 150,739 arrivals in March and 145,279 in April.

So far in May, Maldives has welcomed 44,843 tourists, which is a 92.4 percent growth compared to the arrivals recorded in the same period in 2021 and a 27.7 percent growth from the 35,119 arrivals recorded in the same period in 2019.

In addition to this, the total arrival figure so far this year is a 50.5 percent increase compared to the arrivals recorded in 2021. It his however, an 8.7 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 4,819. The daily arrival average remains at 4,983 this month.

Statistics go on to reveal that although Russia maintained its position as the top source market for Maldives tourism for a long time in the past year, the country’s market has fallen and been replaced with the United Kingdom.

As such, the figures reveal that as of May 9, UK contributes the greatest number of arrivals to the Maldives contributing 12.8 percent of the total arrival count.

Second comes India, contributing 12.5 percent.

Russia ranks third contributing 9.7 percent.

Other top source markets for Maldives tourism include Germany contributing 8.6 percent, Italy contributing 6.9 percent, United States contributing 4.6 percent, France contributing 4.3 percent, Switzerland contributing 2.6 percent, Saudi Arabia contributing 2.1 percent and Austria coming at tenth spot, contributing two percent of the total arrival count.

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 war.  

Statistics go on to indicate that a total of 647 guesthouses are currently operational across Maldives, with 11,272 operational beds across 95 islands spanning 20 atolls.

In total, 973 tourist facilities are operational including 164 resorts and marinas, one homestay facility, 150 liveaboard vessels and 11 hotels. A total of 54,846 tourist beds span across these facilities.

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 this year, revealed that Maldives aims to welcome 1.6 million tourists in the Golden Jubilee 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 in 2022 since the tourism industry’s inception in 1972.

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.