Nearly 40,000 tourists have arrived in the Maldives in the first week of December.
This was revealed by the Ministry of Tourism through its latest daily tourist arrival statistics publicized on Sunday.
The ministry’s statistics reveal that between December 1 – 7, a total of 39,932 visitors touched down at Velana International Airport (VIA). The arrival figure for December is a 0.1 percent decline compared to the 39,991 arrivals recorded in the same period last year. However, it is a slight increase from the 37,599 arrivals recorded in the same period of 2022.
About 5,705 tourists are arriving on average every day during December.
Looking at the daily arrivals for December:
- 7,100 tourists were welcomed on December 1
- 5,133 tourists were welcomed on December 2
- 5,931 tourists were welcomed on December 3
- 5,219 tourists were welcomed on December 4
- 5,291 tourists were welcomed on December 5
- 5,059 tourists were welcomed on December 6
- 6,199 tourists were welcomed on December 7
Statistics go on to show that between January 1 and December 7, the Maldives welcomed 1,877,567 tourists. The arrival figure so far this year is a nine percent increase from the 1,723,838 arrivals recorded in the same period last year, and a significant growth from the 1,528,851 arrivals recorded in 2022.
The daily average for 2024 so far is 5,490, 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 February 10, when more than 10,000 tourist arrivals were recorded.
The Maldives welcomed 1.8 million tourists in 2023 and aspires to welcome two million tourists this year.
Tourist arrivals for this year include:
- 192,385 visitors welcomed during January
- 217,392 visitors welcomed during February
- 194,227 visitors welcomed during March
- 168,366 visitors welcomed during April
- 119,875 visitors welcomed during May
- 123,284 visitors welcomed during June
- 167,528 visitors welcomed during July
- 176,175 visitors welcomed during August
- 132,795 visitors welcomed during September
- 172,621 visitors welcomed during October
- 172,987 visitors welcomed during November
Further, the ministry revealed that China remains the top source of tourist arrivals, proving a growing demand for travel to the island nation in the eastern Asian region.
China sits at the top of the list of tourist source markets, contributing 13.5 percent of the market share with 254,354 arrivals by December 7.
The year began with Italy topping the tourist arrival markets of the island nation; however, it was replaced by Russia for a few weeks.
Although the United Kingdom ranked in second place for a while, it was replaced by Russia once more.
Russia now contributes 11.1 percent of the market share with 208,946 arrivals recorded so far.
Russia dominated the tourist arrival markets of the Maldives by the end of 2023.
The UK currently ranks in third place in the top 10 markets, contributing 8.7 percent of the market share with 164,183 arrivals.
Although India was among the top three source markets at the beginning of the year, it was replaced by China.
Other top tourist markets so far in 2024 are:
- Germany contributing 7.8 percent with 145,596 arrivals
- Italy contributing 6.8 percent with 127,076 arrivals
- India contributing 6.2 percent with 117,292 arrivals
- United States contributing 3.4 percent with 63,560 arrivals
- France contributing 2.6 percent with 49,286 arrivals
- Spain contributing 2.4 percent with 44,742 arrivals
- Switzerland contributing two percent with 37,417 arrivals
Welcoming the first tourist of 2024 to the Maldives back in January, Minister of Tourism Ibrahim Faisal noted that it was 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.
The Maldives welcomed the one millionth tourist of the year, six months in, on June 27.
A true jewel of the Indian Ocean, Maldives has been dazzling among passionate travelers since tourism was introduced in the Maldives in 1972. It has been 52 years since the island paradise has been enchanting travelers from around the globe with its unrivaled hospitality and picturesque beauty.
