Maldives is inching closer to recording one million tourists for the ongoing year.

This was revealed by the Ministry of Tourism through its latest weekly tourist arrival statistics publicized on Friday.

As such, the ministry’s statistics reveal that Maldives has welcomed a total of 984,635 visitors since the new year began.

Monthly figures show that 172,499 tourists were welcomed during January, 177,915 in February, 173,514 in March, 164,357 in April, 120,959 in May and 120,363 during June.

Between July 1 – 12, a total of 55,028 visitors were recorded at Velana International Airport (VIA).

The arrival figure for the ongoing month is a 2.2 percent surge compared to the 53,869 arrivals recorded in the same period last year and much higher than the 31,245 arrivals recorded in the same period of 2021.

The daily average for July is 4,586 and tourists are staying for an average of seven days. The ministry earlier predicted that an average of 4,300 tourists will be recorded on a daily basis, in July.

This year’s arrival figure is an increase of 13.6 percent from the 867,088 arrivals recorded in the same period last year, and a significant growth from the 541,794 arrivals recorded in 2021.

The daily average for 2023 is at 5,102 and tourists are staying in the Maldives for an average of seven days.

Statistics indicate that so far this year, nearly 200,000 visitors have been touching down in the Maldives on a monthly basis.

The number of tourists welcomed at the VIA as the first half of the year draws to a close, has increased up to more than 952,000, with which it has been predicted that Maldives will welcome its millionth tourist for the ongoing year, by the third week of July.

Although the figure dropped in May and June, it was still higher than 100,000 arrivals.

The highest daily arrivals so far this ongoing month, was recorded on July 9, with more than 5,300 arrivals.

Further, statistics revealed that India is the top tourist market for Maldives, contributing 11.8 percent of the market share with 115,837 arrivals recorded from the country by July 12 while Russia toppled to the second spot with 115,334, which is 11.7 percent of the arrivals.

The neighboring country overtook Russia, which was the frontrunner among the tourism markets with the highest number of tourist arrivals into the first few months of the year.

2022 ended with the neighboring country as the top source market for Maldives tourism.

United Kingdom sits in third contributing 8.5 percent with 83,942 arrivals.

Although South Korea was included among the top 10 markets contributing to the tourist arrivals, it has since been replaced by Australia.

Maldives is expected to record 1.9 million tourist arrivals by year-end.

The government launched its fifth tourism master plan which places high priority in achieving the target noted including increasing bed nights. The tourism master plan carries the purpose of developing the tourism sector and increasing services provided to tourists by the country.

The government also plans to expand tourism across the scatter of islands comprising the Maldives.

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.

Tourism was introduced in the Maldives in 1972. 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.