India has once again become the top tourist market for Maldives.

This was revealed by the Ministry of Tourism in its latest daily statistics, publicized on May 15.

As per the figures revealed by the ministry, Maldives has recorded more than 79,000 tourist arrivals from India by May 14. Hence India currently ranks first on the top 10 markets list, contributing 12.9 percent of the total arrival count.

According to the weekly figures publicized on 12 May, 11, 79,562 tourists had visited the Maldives from India. between January 1 – May 11.

The figures revealed the United Kingdom comes second، contributing 12.7 percent by May 14.

80,102 arrivals were recorded from UK by May 11.

Russia which had maintained its position as the top source market for Maldives tourism in the past, now ranks in the third place, contributing 9.6 percent with 60,533 arrivals by May 11.

Although Ukraine was also 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 reveal that Maldives had welcomed a total of 639,418 tourists between January 1 – May 14.

Of the total arrival count, 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 62,628 tourists, which is a 74.6 percent growth compared to the arrivals recorded in the same period in 2021 and a 22.3 percent growth from the arrivals recorded in the same period in 2019.

In addition to this, the total arrival figure so far this year is a 50.2 percent increase compared to the arrivals recorded in 2021. It his however, an 8.3 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 4,772. The daily arrival average remains at 4,473 this month.

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.