Maldives has welcomed more than 236,000 tourists so far this year.
This was revealed by the Ministry of Tourism through its latest daily tourist arrival statistics publicized on Wednesday.
Since the new year began, a total of 236,730 tourist arrivals have been recorded.
During January the country welcomed 192,385 visitors.
Between February 1 – 6, a total of 44,345 arrivals were recorded.
February’s arrivals so far are a 24.3 percent increase from the 35,663 arrivals recorded in the same period last year, and a significant growth from the 27,313 arrivals recorded in 2022.
The arrival figure for this year has seen an increase of 13.7 percent from the 208,162 arrivals recorded in the same period last year, and a significant growth from the 159,075 arrivals recorded in 2022.
The daily average for 2024 so far, is 6,398 and tourists are staying for an average of eight days.
Looking at the daily arrivals for February:
- 6,598 tourists were welcomed on February 1
- 6,587 tourists were welcomed on February 2
- 8,900 tourists were welcomed on February 3
- 8,032 tourists were welcomed on February 4
- 6,708 tourists were welcomed on February 5
- 7,520 tourists were welcomed on February 6
The highest number of tourist arrivals recorded on a daily basis so far this year, was in February 3, when more than 8,900 tourist arrivals were recorded.
Further, statistics go on to reveal that China has become the top source market for Maldives’ tourist, into the second month of the year.
As such, while the new year began with Italy topping the tourist arrival markets of the island nation it was replaced by Russia for a few weeks and China currently sits at the top of the list, contributing 12 percent of the market share with 28,304 arrivals.
Russia dominated the tourist arrival markets of the Maldives by the end of 2023.
Italy has toppled to second spot and now contributes 10 percent of the market share with 23,749 arrivals recorded so far.
Russia comes third contributing 9.9 percent of the market share with 23,399 arrivals.
Although India was among the top three source markets into the beginning of the year, it was replaced by China.
Other top tourist markets so far in 2024 are:
- United Kingdom contributing 8.4 percent with 19,897 arrivals
- India contributing 7.5 percent with 17,794 arrivals
- Germany contributing 6.1 percent with 14,558 arrivals
- France contributing 3.5 percent with 8,302 arrivals
- United States contributing 3.4 percent with 7,997 arrivals
- Poland contributing 2.8 percent with 6,629 arrivals
- Switzerland contributing 2.2 percent with 5,130 arrivals
Although Kazakhstan was among the top source markets, it has been replaced by Switzerland.
Statistics go on to reveal that a total of 1,146 tourist facilities are currently open for services to tourists across the archipelago nation, including 175 resorts, 15 hotels, 816 guesthouses and 140 liveaboard vessels.
61,586 beds are operational across these facilities including 43,123 in resorts, 13,747 in guesthouses, 2,016 in hotels and 2,700 in liveaboard vessels.
The first tourist visitor of the new year was welcomed during a special ceremony held at Velana International Airport (VIA) in the early hours of January 1. A Benjamin Duncan Moore, the first tourist of 2024 hails from the United Kingdom and arrived in the island nation on an Emirates flight.
Welcoming the first tourist of 2024 to the Maldives, Minister of Tourism Ibrahim Faisal noted that this is a fantastic start to what promises to be another successful year for the Maldives’ tourism industry.
He expressed keen interest in diversifying and exploring additional markets to reach this year’s arrival target.
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.
