July's tourist arrivals see 47.9 percent increase from same period in 2021

Tourist arrivals for July 2022 have been recorded as a 47.9 percent increase from the figure recorded in the same period of 2021.

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

Statistics revealed that so far in the Golden Jubilee Year of tourism, Maldives has welcomed a total of 892,960 tourists.

As such, between January 1 – July 18 this year, the arrival figures saw an increase of 58.2 percent compared to the same period of 2021. It is however, a decline of 4.8 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. In May, Maldives welcomed 125,522 tourists, while June saw 110,889 tourists arriving in the Maldives.

79,749arrivals have been recorded so far in July. This figure is a 47.9 percent growth compared to the arrivals recorded in 2021, however, it is a six percent drop from the figure 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 4,487. The daily average for the ongoing month, is at 4,431.

Figures go on to reveal that India continues to top the Maldives tourist arrival markets, halfway into 2022.

As such, the ministry revealed that even though 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 14.7 percent of the total arrival figure by July 18.

Second comes the United Kingdom, contributing 11.7 percent.

Coming in third is Russia contributing 10.4 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.  

Statistics went on to reveal that a total of 1,168 tourist facilities are operational across the Maldives currently, of which 836 are guesthouses, 163 are resorts and marinas, 155 are liveaboard vessels, 13 are hotels and two are homestay facilities.

57,489 operational beds span across these facilities including 39,331 in resorts, 13,608 in guesthouses, 2,924 in liveaboard vessels, 1,616 in hotels and 10 in homestay facilities.

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.