Tourist arrivals exceed 100,000-mark for the fifth month this year

Maldives has recorded more than 100,000 tourist arrivals for the fifth month this promising year.

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

Statistics revealed that so far in the Golden Jubilee Year of tourism, Maldives has welcomed a total of 677,028 tourists.

Between January 1 – May 24 this year, the arrivals figure saw an increase of 52.5 percent compared to the same period of 2021. It is however, a decline of seven percent compared to the figures recorded in 2019.

131,764 tourists were welcomed during January and 149,008 arrivals were recorded in February, followed by 150,739 arrivals in March and 145,280 during April.

So far in May, Maldives has welcomed 100,228 arrivals, which is an 84.5 percent growth compared to the arrivals recorded in 2021 and a 22.4 percent increase from the figure recorded in 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 4,702. The highest daily arrivals so far in April remain at 4,176.

Although Russia had maintained its position as the top source market for Maldives tourism in the past, India has once again become the top tourist market for Maldives, contributing 13.6 percent of the total arrival figure by May 24.

Second comes the United Kingdom, contributing 12.5 percent.

Coming at third is Russia contributing 9.5 percent.

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.  

Other top tourism markets so far in 2022 include Germany contributing 8.5, Italy contributing 6.6 percent, United States contributing 4.7 percent, France contributing 4.1 percent, Switzerland contributing 2.5 percent, Saudi Arabia contributing 2.2 percent and Austria contributing 1.9 percent.

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.

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.