Ministry of Tourism has disclosed that the majority of the airlines operating to the Maldives are European.

Statistics published by the Tourism Ministry in their latest tourism bulletin show that a total of 25 airlines are currently operating flights to the Maldives. They are 21 airlines which operate scheduled trips to the country and four airlines which operate chartered trips.

Seven Airlines out of the 25 airlines operating to Maldives are European Airlines. As such, Aeroflot, Edelweiss, Neos, Eurowings Discover and Turkish Airlines make scheduled flights to the Maldives, while Air Astana and Lot Polish Airlines make chartered trips to the country.

Statistics show that six airlines operating to the Maldives are Middle Eastern Airlines. They are; Emirates, Etihad, Fly Dubai, Gulf Air, Qatar Airways and Saudi Arabian Airways. These six airlines operate scheduled flights to the country.

Moreover, three airlines from India operate flights to the Maldives. They are Air India and Indigo operating scheduled flights and Air Vistara which operates chartered flights to the Maldives.

Additional airlines operating scheduled flights to the Maldives are; Air Asia, Air Asia Thailand, Air Seychelles, Bangkok Airways, Singapore Airlines, Sri Lankan Airlines and Maldivian.

The US-Bangla Airlines operate chartered flights to the Maldives.

The statistics goes on to show that the most number of tourist arrivals to the country are from the Asia Pacific region. As such, by the end of the first six months of 2022, Maldives welcomed 185,885 tourists from the Asia Pacific region. At the second place of the list is Europe with 160,365 tourist arrivals recorded, followed by America with 60,209 tourist arrivals. Fourth is the Middle Eastern region with a recorded tourist arrival of 40,505. The country has welcomed 13,076 tourist from the Africa by the end of June 2022.

Tourism Ministry's statistics show that India is the top source market of Maldivian tourism this year. As such, the country contributes 14.8 percent of the Maldives' tourist arrivals, with 120,604 tourists welcomed by the end June 2022. Next on the list is the United Kingdom, contributing 11.9 percent with 96,470 tourist arrivals, followed by Russia, contributing 10.1 percent with 81.829 tourist arrivals.

Statistics show that Germany contributes 8.3 percent, with 67,803 tourist arrivals, while Italy contributes 6 percent, with 49,080 tourist arrivals.

Other top source markets include United States contributing 4.8 percent, with 39,209 tourist arrivals, France contributing 3.7 percent, with 29,834 tourist arrivals, Switzerland contributing 2.3 percent, with 18,421 tourist arrivals, Saudi Arabia contributing 2.2 percent, with 17,961 tourist arrivals and Spain contributing 2 percent, with 15,957 tourist arrivals.

By the end of the first half of 2022, Maldives welcomed a total of 813,211 tourists to the country. This is a 59.3 percent growth compared to the previous year.