The tourist arrival figure has seen an increase of 30 percent compared to 2022.
This was revealed by the Ministry of Tourism in its latest weekly statistics, publicized on Friday.
Since the new year began, Maldives welcomed a total of 138,593 visitors, which according to the ministry is an increase of 30 percent from the 106,826 arrivals recorded in the same period last year, and a significant increase from the 73,501 arrivals recorded in 2021.
The highest daily arrivals so far this month was recorded on January 22, when more than 7,000 visitors were welcomed at Velana International Airport (VIA).
The daily average for the newly commenced year is at 5,544 and tourists are staying in the Maldives for an average of eight days.
Looking at the daily arrivals for January 2023:
- 4,625 tourists were welcomed on January 1
- 6,487 tourists were welcomed on January 2
- 6,232 tourists were welcomed on January 3
- 4,953 tourists were welcomed on January 4
- 4,607 tourists were welcomed on January 5
- 4,782 tourists were welcomed on January 6
- 5,523 tourists were welcomed on January 7
- 5,195 tourists were welcomed on January 8
- 5,522 tourists were welcomed on January 9
- 5,489 tourists were welcomed on January 10
- 5,656 tourists were welcomed on January 11
- 5,339 tourists were welcomed on January 12
- 5,119 tourists were welcomed on January 13
- 5,956 tourists were welcomed on January 14
- 6,287 tourists were welcomed on January 15
- 5,400 tourists were welcomed on January 16
- 5,667 tourists were welcomed on January 17
- 5,400 tourists were welcomed on January 18
- 5,148 tourists were welcomed on January 19
- 5,475 tourists were welcomed on January 20
- 6,681 tourists were welcomed on January 21
- 7,009 tourists were welcomed on January 22
- 5,095 tourists were welcomed on January 23
- 5,719 tourists were welcomed on January 24
The statistics go on to reveal that Russia has topped the source market for the archipelago nation’s tourism, contributing 14 percent of the market share with 19,389 arrivals recorded from the country so far.
Although the country ranked third since the beginning of the year, India has climbed up to the second position contributing 10.4 percent with 14,350 arrivals. 2022 ended with the neighboring country as the top source market for Maldives tourism.
Coming in third is Italy contributing 10 percent with 13,848 arrivals.
Other top tourism markets so far in 2023 are:
- United Kingdom contributing 8.3 percent with 11,496 arrivals
- Germany contributing six percent with 8,253 arrivals
- United States contributing 4.6 percent with 6,425 arrivals
- France contributing 3.7 percent with 5,075 arrivals
- China contributing 3.2 percent with 4,477 arrivals
- Kazakhstan contributing 1.9 percent with 2,693 arrivals
- South Korea contributing 1.9 percent with 2,573 arrivals
Although Switzerland ranked in the top ten markets by the end of the week, the South Korean market has since replaced it.
The archipelago nation welcomed its first tourist visitor of the new year with a special ceremony held at Velana International Airport (VIA) for Nikolai Stratichuk from Russia, who arrived with his family on his first-ever visit to Maldives.
Due to the numerous safety precautions implemented in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, alongside border closure, 2020 was a sluggish year for Maldives tourism. However 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.
In 2022, Maldives welcomed 1,675,285 tourists. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in his presidential address on 3 February 2022, revealed that Maldives aimed to welcome 1.6 million tourists in 2022. The island nation reached its target with the combined efforts of relevant government agencies, the private sector, and industry stakeholders.
The golden jubilee year of tourism held a record of milestones related to the tourism sector. As such, Maldives was crowned the World’s Leading Destination three times in a row last year.
Minister of Tourism, Dr. Abdulla Mausoom noted that this quick rebound of Maldives tourism to pre-pandemic level is a clear indication of the visionary leadership of President Solih, sound tourism policies and the strong partnership between the government and the private sector.
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.
