Over 398,000 tourist arrivals recorded so far this year
During January the country welcomed 192,385 visitors
Tourists at Velana International Airport (VIA)
More than 398,000 tourist arrivals have been recorded so far this year.
This was revealed by the Ministry of Tourism through its latest daily tourist arrival statistics publicized on Wednesday.
As such, the ministry revealed that since the new year began, Maldives has welcomed a total of 398,605 visitors.
During January the country welcomed 192,385 visitors.
Between February 1 – 27, a total of 206,220 arrivals were recorded.
The arrival figure recorded so far in February 2024 is a 19.8 percent surge from the same period of 2023.
February’s arrivals are a 19.8 percent increase from the 172,137 arrivals recorded in the same period last year, and a significant growth from the 143,651 arrivals recorded in 2022.
The arrival figure for this year has seen an increase of 15.7 percent from the 344,636 arrivals recorded in the same period last year, and a significant growth from the 275,416 arrivals recorded in 2022.
The daily average for 2024 so far, is 6,873 and tourists are staying for an average of eight days.
The highest number of tourist arrivals recorded on a daily basis so far this year, was in February 10, when more than 10,000 tourist arrivals were recorded.
Statistics go on to indicate that 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 13.3 percent of the market share with 52,995 arrivals by February 27.
Russia dominated the tourist arrival markets of the Maldives by the end of 2023 and currently ranks second place in the top 10 markets, contributing 9.6 percent of the market share with 38,380 arrivals.
Italy has toppled to third spot and now contributes 9.6 percent of the market share with 38,104 arrivals recorded so far.
Although India was among the top three source markets into the beginning of the year, it was replaced by China.
Although Kazakhstan was among the top source markets, it has been replaced by Switzerland.
Statistics go on to reveal that a total of 1,164 tourist facilities are currently open for services to tourists across the archipelago nation, including 175 resorts, 15 hotels, 834 guesthouses and 140 liveaboard vessels.
61,929 beds are operational across these facilities including 43,178 in resorts, 14,035 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.
