K. Male'
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08 Mar 2023 | Wed 18:45
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china tourists
Visit Maldives
Tourist arrivals for 2023
Tourist arrivals for the year nears 400,000
 
The daily average for the year so far is at 6,790
 
Maldives has welcomed a total of 393,839 tourists so far
 
So far in March, the country has welcomed 43,426 tourists

The tourist arrival figure recorded so far this year has reached the 390,000-mark.

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

Statistics show that Maldives has welcomed a total of 393,839 tourists. As such, 172,499 tourists were welcomed in January and 177,914 tourists were welcomed in February.

So far in March, the country has welcomed 43,426 tourists.

According to the ministry, this figure is an increase of 24.2 percent from the 317,111 arrivals recorded in the same period last year, and a significant increase from the 213,115 arrivals recorded in 2021.

So far this month, the highest daily arrivals was recorded on 04 March, when more than 7,000 visitors were welcomed at Velana International Airport (VIA).

The daily average for the year so far is at 6,790 and tourists are staying in the Maldives for an average of eight days.

Looking at the daily arrivals for March 2023

6,125 tourists were welcomed on March 1

6,019 tourists were welcomed on March 2

5,345 tourists were welcomed on March 3

7,381 tourists were welcomed on March 4

6,900 tourists were welcomed on March 5

5,712 tourists were welcomed on March 6

5,944 tourists were welcomed on March 7

According to the figures, Russia has topped the source market for the archipelago nation's tourism, accounting for 12.6 percent of the market share with 49,494 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 42,801 arrivals. The neighboring country was the largest source market for Maldives tourism in 2022.

The United Kingdom is third, with 9.4 percent with 36,889 arrivals.

Other top tourism markets so far in 2023 are:

Italy contributing 9.1 percent with 35,991 arrivals

Germany contributing 6.7 percent with 26,354 arrivals

France contributing 4.6 percent with 17,975 arrivals

United States contributing 4 percent with 15,816 arrivals

China contributing 2.9 percent with 11,460 arrivals

Switzerland contributing 2.4 percent with 9,500 arrivals

Poland contributing 1.9 percent with 7,340 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.

Last updated at: 1 year ago
Reviewed by: Fathimath Zuhaira
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