2024 arrivals up nine percent from 2023
Maldives welcomed 1.8 million tourists in 2023
Tourists at Velana International Airport (VIA)
Arrivals for 2024 were a nine percent surge in comparison to the previous year.
This was revealed by the Ministry of Tourism through its latest daily tourist arrival statistics published on Tuesday.
On December 26 Maldives reached its tourist arrival target for the year, upon the arrival of the island nation’s two millionth tourist for the year. An Austrian citizen, the two millionth tourist received a warm welcome at Velana International Airport (VIA) on Thursday morning. She was welcomed by Minister of Tourism Ibrahim Faisal. As the two millionth tourist of the year, she has received a six-day holiday at SAii Lagoon Maldives, Curio Collection by Hilton as a prize. In addition to this, gifts were presented by the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), Maldives Immigration, and Maldives Customs Service as well.
The Maldives welcomed 1.8 million tourists in 2023.
The daily average for 2024 was 5,593, and tourists stayed for an average of eight days.
The highest number of tourist arrivals recorded on a daily basis last years was February 10, when more than 10,000 tourist arrivals were recorded.
The ministry went on to reveal that between December 1 – 31, a total of 203,891 visitors touched down at Velana International Airport (VIA). The arrival figure for December was an eight percent increase compared to the 188,798 arrivals recorded in the same period last year. It is also a significant surge from the 179,307 arrivals recorded in the same period of 2022.
About 6,796 tourists arrived on average every day during December.
Further, the ministry highlighted that China remained the top source of tourist arrivals, proving a growing demand for travel to the island nation in the eastern Asian region.
China sat at the top of the list of tourist source markets, contributing 12.9 percent of the market share with 263,042 arrivals by December’s end.
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 percent of the market share with 224,699 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 8.8 percent of the market share with 180,455 arrivals.
Although India was among the top three source markets at the beginning of the year, it was replaced by China.
Welcoming the first tourist of 2024 to the Maldives in January, Minister 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 the year’s arrival target.
The Maldives welcomed the one millionth tourist of 2024 six months in, on 27 June 2024.
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.
