214,864 tourists were welcomed to the Maldives in the first month of the year.

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

As such, the ministry’s latest figures show that 214,864 tourist arrivals were recorded between January 1 – 31.

This is an 11.7 percent surge in comparison to the 192,385 arrivals recorded in the same period last year and much higher than the 172,499 arrivals recorded in the same period of 2023.

About 6,931 tourists arrived on average every day during January.

In the first two days of February, 18,593 visitors were recorded, marking a 41 percent surge from the 13,185 arrivals recorded in the same period of 2024. It is a lot higher than the  11,515 arrivals recorded in 2023.

In total, 233,457 tourists have arrived in the Maldives so far this year. This is a 13.6 percent surge in comparison to the 205,570 arrivals recorded in 2024 and much higher than the 184,014 arrivals recorded in 2023.

According to the ministry, 163,190 out of the 233,457 visitors that were recorded by Wednesday stayed at resorts. This makes up 69.9 percent. 58,817 tourists make up 25.2 percent of the tourists who stayed at guesthouses, 5,884 tourists make up 2.5 percent of the tourists who stayed at hotels, 5,479 tourists make up 2.3 percent of the tourists who stayed at liveaboard vessels and 87 who stayed at other facilities during this period.

Presently, 1,133 tourist accommodation establishments are operational across the Maldives, including 171 resorts, 15 hotels, 793 guesthouses and 154 liveaboard vessels. 60,795 beds are operational across these facilities including 42,254 in resorts, 2,032 in hotels, 13,381 in guesthouses and 3,034 in safari vessels. Maldives has a total capacity of 1,140 tourist facilities including 178 resorts, 15 hotels, 793 guesthouses and 154 liveaboard vessels. This means that seven resorts remain inoperative. Guesthouses are operational across 116 islands of 20 atolls, resorts are operational across 171 islands of 19 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.

Although Russia topped the tourist source markets into the third week of January, it was replaced by China into the last week of January.

As January comes closer to ending, China has topped the leading source of tourists. The ministry’s figures revealed that as 2025 commenced Russia topped the tourist source markets, however, it has since been replaced by China, contributing 17.1 percent of the market share with 39,887 arrivals.

China sat at the top of the list of tourist source markets by the end of 2024 as well. 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.

Although Italy ranked second place for a few weeks since the new year began, it was replaced by China for a while and now, Russia sits at second place on the list. Russia ranks second place contributing 10.1 percent of the market share with 23,512 arrivals recorded by Monday.

Although U.K came third for the first few weeks, it has been replaced by Italy, contributing 9.5 percent of the market share with 22,162 arrivals.

Although South Korea topped the tourist source markets by the end of January, it has since been replaced by Austria on the list of top 10 markets.

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.