Tourist arrivals for the year surpass 350,000

The tourist arrival figure recorded within the first two months of the year has surpassed the 350,000-mark.

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

Statistics shows that Maldives has welcomed a total of 350,413 tourists. As such, 172,499 tourists were welcomed in January and 177,914 tourists were welcomed in February.

According to the ministry, this figure is an increase of 24.8 percent from the 280,776 arrivals recorded in the same period last year, and a significant increase from the 188,985 arrivals recorded in 2021.

So far this month, the highest daily arrivals was recorded on February 11, when more than 8,000 visitors were welcomed at Velana International Airport (VIA).

The daily average for the year so far is at 5,939 and tourists are staying in the Maldives for an average of eight days.

Looking at the daily arrivals for February 2023 according to the most recent daily statistics publicized by the ministry:

5,623 tourists were welcomed on February 1
5,892 tourists were welcomed on February 2
6,355 tourists were welcomed on February 3
6,846 tourists were welcomed on February 4
6,528 tourists were welcomed on February 5
5,454 tourists were welcomed on February 6
5,751 tourists were welcomed on February 7
5,589 tourists were welcomed on February 8
5,949 tourists were welcomed on February 9
6,071 tourists were welcomed on February 10
8,028 tourists were welcomed on February 11
7,610 tourists were welcomed on February 12
6,677 tourists were welcomed on February 13
6,564 tourists were welcomed on February 14
6,072 tourists were welcomed on February 15
6,632 tourists were welcomed on February 16
6,108 tourists were welcomed on February 17
7,729 tourists were welcomed on February 18
7,479 tourists were welcomed on February 19
6,202 tourists were welcomed on February 20
6,709 tourists were welcomed on February 21
6,238 tourists were welcomed on February 22
6,122 tourists were welcomed on February 23
5,715 tourists were welcomed on February 24
7,311 tourists were welcomed on February 25
6,527 tourists were welcomed on February 26
5,375 tourists were welcomed on February 27
5,778 tourists were welcomed on February 28

According to the figures, Russia has topped the source market for the archipelago nation's tourism, accounting for 12.8 percent of the market share with 44,748 arrivals registered by the end of February.

Although being placed third since the beginning of the year, India has risen to second place, contributing 10.9 percent with 38,109 arrivals. The neighboring country was the largest source market for Maldives tourism in 2022.

The United Kingdom is third, with 9.3 percent with 32,566 arrivals.

Other top tourism markets so far in 2023 are:

Italy contributing 9.2 percent with 32,395 arrivals
Germany contributing 6.6 percent with 22,995 arrivals
France contributing 4.7 percent with 16,483 arrivals
United States contributing 4 percent with 14,082 arrivals
China contributing 2.9 percent with 10,071 arrivals
Switzerland contributing 2.5 percent with 8,590 arrivals
Poland contributing 1.9 percent with 6,672 arrivals

Although Kazakhstan and South Korea were among the top source markets for Maldives tourism at the end of January, they have since been dropped from the list.

2020 was a slow year for Maldives tourism due to several safety precautions implemented in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak, as well as border closure. However, tourist arrivals began to rebound in 2021, with the relaxation of travel restrictions and the implementation of safety measures against Covid-19.

The Maldives saw 555,494 visitor arrivals in 2020, a significant decrease from the previous year's 1,702,887 visits. Maldives met its 2021 tourist arrival target in late December, welcoming a total of 1,321,932 visitors before 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.

In his presidential address this year, delivered at the People’s Majlis on 6 February 2023, President Solih stated that the Maldives will be welcoming 3.5 million tourists, annually, by 2028.

Describing the past three years as the most challenging years the Maldivian economy has faced, he noted that the Covid-19 pandemic brought a complete halt to the Maldivian economy.

The president went on to state that the administration can show results based on mathematical results on the work done and what remains to be done, adding that data demonstrate how well the Maldivian economy is doing.

Highlighting that the Maldives will be welcoming 3.5 million tourists annually by 2028, President Solih stated that this will be the result of all of the commenced, ongoing and completed developmental projects of the administration.

He added that the development projects of his administration will take the Maldives’ tourism industry to new heights.

The President said that this will double the country’s economic growth, remarking that the total productivity of the country, which was at MVR 81 billion in 2018, can be doubled and increased to MVR 177 billion in 10 years.

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.