32,087 tourists welcomed in first week of August

Maldives welcomed 32,087 tourists in the first week of August.

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

Statistics revealed that a total of 36,994 tourists were welcomed between August 1 – 8.

Further, between January 1 – August 8 this year the arrival figure sits at 983,766, with which Maldives is inching closer to its tourist arrival target for the promising year.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in his presidential address on February 3, revealed that Maldives aims to welcome 1.6 million tourists this year.

The arrival figure within this period saw an increase of 51 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 followed by 133,561 arrivals in July.

13,303 arrivals were recorded in the first three days of August. This figure is a 4.6 percent drop compared to the arrivals recorded in 2021 and a five 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 4,472. The daily average for the ongoing month, is at 4,624.

On Sunday, Maldives welcomed more than 5,000 arrivals, making it a first in many days.

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

As such, the ministry revealed that although Russia had maintained its position as the top source market for Maldives tourism in the past year, India has once again become the top tourist market for Maldives, contributing 14.2 percent of the total arrival figure by August 8.

Second comes the United Kingdom, contributing 11.6 percent.

Coming in third is Russia contributing 10.9 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.  

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.

It has been 50 years since zealous travelers have been visiting the Maldives which has been drawing in visitors with its picturesque beauty.

Maldives marks 50 years in 2022 since the tourism industry’s inception in 1972.