Tourist arrivals so far in October soaring from last year's figure

The tourist arrival figure has been soaring so far in October, in comparison to the same period last year.

Latest daily statistics publicized by the Ministry of Tourism on Wednesday reveal that a total of 1,213,103 tourists were welcomed between January 1 – October 4.

This is a 38.1 percent increase from the arrivals recorded in 2021. However, it is still a 4.5 percent drop compared to the arrivals recorded in 2019.

This means that 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 total arrival figure so far this year, includes 131,764 tourists welcomed during January, 149,008 tourist arrivals during February, 150,739 tourists welcomed during March and 145,280 tourists welcomed during April.

Further, 125,522 tourists were welcomed during May followed by 110,889 tourists in June and 133,561 tourists welcomed during July.

In August, Maldives welcomed 131,863 tourists, followed by 114,984 in September.

So far in October, Maldives has welcomed 19,485 tourists. This figure is a 4.5 percent increase from the arrivals recorded in 2019 and an 18.2 percent increase from the figure recorded in the same period last year.

Daily arrivals this ongoing month is much higher than that of September’s.

Maldives welcomed its one millionth tourist of the year on August 13. The government reached the one-million arrivals milestone for the promising year, with the arrival of a Czech Republic national.

Figures reveal that India remains the top source market for the archipelago nation’s tourism.

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 14.2 percent of the total arrival figure by October 4.

Second comes Russia, contributing 12 percent.

Coming in third is the United Kingdom contributing 11 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.  

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.

Tourism was introduced in the Maldives in 1972.