India remains top source market for Maldives tourism as total arrivals top 1,028,467
Maldives aims to welcome 1.6 million tourists this year
Tourists touching down at Velana International Airport (VIA)
With 146,923 visitors recorded from the country so far this year, neighboring India remains the top source market for Maldives tourism.
Latest statistics publicized by the Ministry of Tourism reveal that India remains the top source market for the archipelago nation’s tourism, as the country’s tourist arrivals reached 1,028,467 by August 17.
As such, the ministry has 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 14.3 percent of the total arrival figure by August 17 with a total of 146,923 arrivals recorded from the neighboring country.
Second comes the United Kingdom, contributing 11.5 percent with 118,734 arrivals.
Coming in third is Russia contributing 11.1 percent with 114,577 arrivals.
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 revealed that so far in the Golden Jubilee Year of tourism, the arrival count between January 1 – August 17 this year is an increase of 47.9 percent in comparison to the same period of 2021 and a 4.8 percent drop from 2019.
Between August 1 – 17, Maldives welcomed 81,695 visitors.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in his presidential address on February 3, revealed that Maldives aims to welcome 1.6 million tourists this year.
2020 was a sluggish year for Maldives tourism due to the numerous safety precautions implemented in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, alongside border closure. Tourist arrivals began to bounce back with the easing of travel restrictions as well as safety measures against Covid-19 in 2021.
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 for years.
Maldives tourism industry was incepted in 1972.
