The tourist arrival figure recorded so far this year has exceeded the 600,000-mark.
This was revealed by the Ministry of Tourism through its latest daily tourist arrival statistics publicized on Monday.
The ministry revealed that the Maldives has welcomed a total of 604,004 visitors since the new year began.
During January the country welcomed 192,385 visitors, followed by 217,392 in February.
The ministry revealed that arrivals so far this year, are a 15.3 percent increase from the 523,928 arrivals recorded in the same period last year, and a significant growth from the 431,524 arrivals recorded in 2022.
The daily average for 2024 so far, is 6,637 and tourists are staying for an average of eight days.
Between March 1 – 31, a total of 194,227 tourists were welcomed at Velana International Airport (VIA). This, the ministry said is an increase of 11.9 percent from the 173,514 arrivals recorded in the same period last year, and a significant growth from the 150,748 arrivals recorded in 2022.
About 6,265 tourists are arriving on average every day during this month, and tourists are staying in the Maldives for eight days.
Looking at the daily arrivals for March:
- 6,366 tourists were welcomed on March 1
- 7,718 tourists were welcomed on March 2
- 7,141 tourists were welcomed on March 3
- 6,093 tourists were welcomed on March 4
- 6,033 tourists were welcomed on March 5
- 5,666 tourists were welcomed on March 6
- 5,355 tourists were welcomed on March 7
- 5,224 tourists were welcomed on March 8
- 6,900 tourists were welcomed on March 9
- 6,855 tourists were welcomed on March 10
- 5,288 tourists were welcomed on March 11
- 5,585 tourists were welcomed on March 12
- 4,951 tourists were welcomed on March 13
- 5,053 tourists were welcomed on March 14
- 4,959 tourists were welcomed on March 15
- 7,051 tourists were welcomed on March 16
- 7,362 tourists were welcomed on March 17
- 5,426 tourists were welcomed on March 18
- 5,536 tourists were welcomed on March 19
- 5,208 tourists were welcomed on March 20
- 5,803 tourists were welcomed on March 21
- 6,120 tourists were welcomed on March 22
- 8,462 tourists were welcomed on March 23
- 8,301 tourists were welcomed on March 24
- 6,411 tourists were welcomed on March 25
- 6,251 tourists were welcomed on March 26
- 6,057 tourists were welcomed on March 27
- 6,303 tourists were welcomed on March 28
- 6,329 tourists were welcomed on March 29
- 7,142 tourists were welcomed on March 30
- 7,275 tourists were welcomed on March 31
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 11.2 percent of the market share with 67,399 arrivals by March 31.
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 10.2 percent of the market share with 61,752 arrivals.
Although Italy ranked third for the past few months, it was recently replaced by the United Kingdom. UK now contributes 9.7 percent of the market share with 58,382 arrivals recorded so far.
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:
- Italy contributing 9.5 percent with 57,569 arrivals
- Germany contributing 7.8 percent with 47,024 arrivals
- India contributing 5.8 percent with 34,855 arrivals
- France contributing 3.8 percent with 23,119 arrivals
- United States contributing 3.4 percent with 20,638 arrivals
- Switzerland contributing 2.3 percent with 14,045 arrivals
- Poland contributing 2.3 percent with 13,855 arrivals
Statistics go on to reveal that a total of 1,180 tourist facilities are currently open for services to tourists across the archipelago nation, including 175 resorts, 15 hotels, 843 guesthouses and 147 liveaboard vessels.
62,206 beds are operational across these facilities including 43,192 in resorts, 14,163 in guesthouses, 2,016 in hotels and 2,835 in liveaboard vessels.
The first tourist visitor of the new year was welcomed during a special ceremony held at VIA in the early hours of January 1.
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. Maldives welcomed 1.8 million tourists in 2023 and aspires to welcome two million tourists this year.
Tourism was introduced in the Maldives in 1972. It has been 52 years since zealous travelers have been visiting the Maldives which has been drawing in visitors with its picturesque beauty for years.
