K. Male'
|
04 Feb 2025 | Tue 15:24
Meeru Island resort
Meeru Island resort
Google
Tourist arrivals for 2025
70 percent of tourists traveling to Maldives flock to luxury stays in 2025
China has topped the leading source of tourists
1,134 tourist accommodation establishments are operational
In the first three days of February, 25,799 visitors were recorded

70 percent of tourists that have arrived in the Maldives so far in 2025 are choosing to indulge in the unequaled luxury of resorts stays.

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

As such, the ministry’s latest figures show that 168,375 out of the 240,663 visitors that were recorded by Monday stayed at resorts. This makes up 70 percent. 60,509 tourists make up 25.1 percent of the tourists who stayed at guesthouses, 6,106 tourists make up 2.5 percent of the tourists who stayed at hotels, 5,582 tourists make up 2.3 percent of the tourists who stayed at liveaboard vessels and 90 who stayed at other facilities during this period.

According to the ministry, 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 three days of February, 25,799 visitors were recorded, marking a 16.8 percent surge from the 22,085 arrivals recorded in the same period of 2024. It is a lot higher than the 16,833 arrivals recorded in 2023.

In total, 240,663 tourists have arrived in the Maldives so far this year. This is a 12.2 percent surge in comparison to the 214,470 arrivals recorded in 2024 and much higher than the 189,332 arrivals recorded in 2023.

Looking at the daily arrivals for February 2025:

  • 9,495 tourists were welcomed on February 1
  • 9,098 tourists were welcomed on February 2
  • 7,206 tourists were welcomed on February 3

Presently, 1,134 tourist accommodation establishments are operational across the Maldives, including 172 resorts, 15 hotels, 793 guesthouses and 154 liveaboard vessels. 60,995 beds are operational across these facilities including 42,454 in resorts, 2,032 in hotels, 13,381 in guesthouses and 3,128 in safari vessels. Maldives has a total capacity of 1,139 tourist facilities including 177 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 17.2 percent of the market share with 41,409 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 percent of the market share with 24,013 arrivals recorded by Monday.

Although U.K came third for the first few weeks, it has been replaced by Italy, contributing 9.4 percent of the market share with 22,711 arrivals.

Other top tourist markets in 2025 include:

  • U.K contributing 8.9 percent with 21,454 arrivals
  • Germany contributing 5.8 percent with 13,966 arrivals
  • India contributing 4.6 percent with 11,113 arrivals
  • France contributing 3.4 percent with 8,144 arrivals
  • United States contributing 3.1 percent with 7,367 arrivals
  • Poland contributing 2.2 percent with 5,291 arrivals
  • Austria contributing 1.8 percent with 4,279 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.

- comment