Russia has once again become the top tourist market for Maldives, as the seventh month of the year draws to a close.

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

As such, statistics revealed that although India topped the tourist markets for Maldives halfway through the year, it has since been replaced by Russia once more. 2022 ended with the neighboring country as the top source market for Maldives tourism.

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

Russia contributes 11.8 percent of the market share with 121,354 arrivals recorded from the country so far, while India has toppled to the second spot with 119,857, which is 11.6 percent of the arrivals.

United Kingdom comes third contributing 8.4 percent with 86,731 arrivals.

Although South Korea was included among the top 10 markets contributing to the tourist arrivals, it has since been replaced by Australia.

The ministry’s statistics go on to reveal that Maldives had welcomed a total of 101,791 visitors between July 1 – 22.

Since the new year began, a total of 1,031,398 tourists have touched down in the archipelago nation.

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.

Although the figures dropped in May and June, they were still higher than 100,000 arrivals.

The arrival figure for the ongoing month is a 6.2 percent surge compared to the 95,838 arrivals recorded in the same period last year and much higher than the 69,206 arrivals recorded in the same period of 2021. The highest daily arrivals so far, this ongoing month, was recorded on July 9, with more than 5,300 arrivals.

The daily average for July is 4,627 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 13.5 percent from the 909,057 arrivals recorded in the same period last year, and a significant growth from the 579,755 arrivals recorded in 2021.

The daily average for 2023 is at 5,081 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.

Maldives welcomed its one millionth tourist of the ongoing year on July 16, with the arrival of a Russian national who resides in the United Kingdom, who arrived on vacation with his spouse and toddler. Anton Pavlov flew in on British Airways and was given a warm welcome at Velana International Airport (VIA). An overjoyed Pavlov noted that this is his first time in the Maldives and expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality received. The immigration department presented the bronze ‘Aida’ tier of the world’s first destination loyalty program, the Maldives Border Miles at the ceremony.

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.