Tourist arrivals surpass 100,000, marking a strong start to the year
117,532 tourist arrivals were recorded between January 1 – 18
Tourists at Velana International Airport (VIA)
The tourist arrival figure has surpassed the 100,000-mark, marking a strong start to the year.
This was revealed by the Ministry of Tourism through its latest daily tourist arrival statistics published on Sunday.
As such, the ministry’s latest figures show that 117,532 tourist arrivals were recorded between January 1 – 18.
This is a 9.7 percent surge in comparison to the 107,119 arrivals recorded in the same period last year and much higher than the 97,882 arrivals recorded in the same period of 2023.
About 6,530 tourists are arriving on average every day during January.
According to the ministry, 63,414 out of the 90,659 visitors recorded by Wednesday stayed at resorts. This makes up 69.9 percent. 22,684 tourists make up 25 percent of the tourists who stayed at guesthouses, 2,203 tourists make up 2.4 percent of the tourists who stayed at liveaboard vessels and 2,359 tourists make up 2.6 percent of the tourists who stayed at hotels during this period.
Maldives welcomed 2,046,615 visitors in 2024. In 2023, 1,878,543 tourist arrivals were recorded.
According to the ministry, 81,767 out of the 117,532 visitors recorded so far in January stayed at resorts. This makes up 69.6 percent. 29,833 tourists make up 25.4 percent of the tourists who stayed at guesthouses, 2,946 tourists make up 2.5 percent of the tourists who stayed at liveaboard vessels and 2,964 tourists make up 2.5 percent of the tourists who stayed at hotels during this period.
Presently, 1,155 tourist accommodation establishments are operational across the Maldives, including 173 resorts, 15 hotels, 816 guesthouses and 151 liveaboard vessels. 61,790 beds are operational across these facilities including 42,819 in resorts, 2,038 in hotels, 13,931 in guesthouses and 3,002 in safari vessels. Maldives has a total capacity of 1,161 tourist facilities including 179 resorts, 15 hotels, 816 guesthouses and 151 liveaboard vessels. This means that six resorts remain inoperative. Guesthouses are operational across 110 islands of 20 atolls and hotels are operational across nine islands of eight atolls.
As 2025 commenced Russia topped the tourist source markets, contributing 12.8 percent of the market share with 15,077 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 10.7 percent of the market share with 12,560 arrivals.
Although U.K came third for the first few weeks, China has climbed to third place now, contributing 9.8 percent of the market share with 11,560 arrivals.
Over the past week, Romania was replaced by Australia in the top source markets. However, Romania has once again claimed its spot.
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.
