January’s arrivals exceed 43,000-mark

The arrival figure recorded so far in January has exceeded the 43,000-mark.

This was revealed by the Ministry of Tourism through its latest daily tourist arrival statistics published on Wednesday.

As such, the ministry’s latest figures show that 43,903 tourist arrivals were recorded between January 1 – 8.

This is a 9.7 percent surge in comparison to the 40,015 arrivals recorded in the same period last year and much higher than the 37,213 arrivals recorded in the same period of 2023.

About 6,272 tourists are arriving on average every day during January.

According to the ministry, 30,685 out of the 43,903 visitors recorded so far in January stayed at resorts. This makes up 69.9 percent. 10,865 tourists make up 24.7 percent of the tourists who stayed at guesthouses, 1,149 tourists make up 2.6 percent of the tourists who stayed at liveaboard vessels and 1,204 tourists make up 2.7 percent of the tourists who stayed at hotels during this period.

Presently, 1,271 tourist accommodation establishments are operational across the Maldives, including 172 resorts, 15 hotels, 929 guesthouses and 155 liveaboard vessels. 63,248 beds are operational across these facilities including 42,547 in resorts, 2,028 in hotels, 15,621 in guesthouses and 3,052 in safari vessels. Maldives has a total capacity of 1,282 tourist facilities including 183 resorts, 15 hotels, 929 guesthouses and 155 liveaboard vessels. This means that 11 resorts remain inoperative. Guesthouses are operational across 117 islands of 20 atolls and hotels are operational across nine islands of eight atolls.

Maldives welcomed 2,046,615 visitors in 2024. In 2023, 1,878,543 tourist arrivals were recorded.

As 2025 commenced Russia topped the tourist source markets, contributing 18.3 percent of the market share with 8,040 arrivals.

China sat at the top of the list of tourist source markets by the end of 2024. 2024 began with Italy topping the tourist arrival markets of the island nation; however, it was replaced by Russia for a few weeks and then by China for the remainder of the year.

Italy now ranks second place contributing 14.9 percent of the market share with 6,529 arrivals.

U.K comes in third place contributing 7.3 percent of the market share with 3,198 arrivals.

Maldives welcomed the first tourist of the year in the early hours of 1 January 2025. Luis and his family have visited the Maldives 11 times now.

A true jewel of the Indian Ocean, Maldives has been dazzling among passionate travelers since tourism was introduced in the Maldives in 1972. It is going to be 53 years since the island paradise has been enchanting travelers from around the globe with its unrivaled hospitality and picturesque beauty.