69 percent of tourists flying to Maldives choose resort stays

69 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 Wednesday.

As such, the ministry’s latest figures show that in total, 358,999 tourists have arrived in the Maldives so far this year. This is a seven percent surge in comparison to the 335,467 arrivals recorded in 2024 and much higher than the 286,957 arrivals recorded in 2023.

247,548 out of the 358,999 visitors that were recorded by Tuesday stayed at resorts. This makes up 69 percent. 92,868 tourists make up 25.9 percent of the tourists who stayed at guesthouses, 9,663 tourists make up 2.7 percent of the tourists who stayed at hotels, 8,664 tourists make up 2.4 percent of the tourists who stayed at liveaboard vessels and 255 who stayed at other facilities during this period.

Further, the tourism ministry revealed that between February 1 – 18, 144,136 visitors were recorded, marking a 0.7 percent surge from the 143,082 arrivals recorded in the same period of 2024. It is a lot higher than the 114,458 arrivals recorded in 2023.

According to the ministry, 214,863 tourist arrivals were recorded between January 1 – 31.

This was 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 and 8,008 tourists are arriving on average every day during February.

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
• 7,882 tourists were welcomed on February 4
• 7,359 tourists were welcomed on February 5
• 7,173 tourists were welcomed on February 6
• 7,630 tourists were welcomed on February 7
• 9,209 tourists were welcomed on February 8
• 8,883 tourists were welcomed on February 9
• 6,964 tourists were welcomed on February 10
• 7,685 tourists were welcomed on February 11
• 7,050 tourists were welcomed on February 12
• 6,946 tourists were welcomed on February 13
• 7,834 tourists were welcomed on February 14
• 9,421 tourists were welcomed on February 15
• 9,518 tourists were welcomed on February 16
• 7,274 tourists were welcomed on February 17
• 7,509 tourists were welcomed on February 18

Presently, 1,138 tourist accommodation establishments are operational across the Maldives, including 172 resorts, 15 hotels, 796 guesthouses and 155 liveaboard vessels. 61,047 beds are operational across these facilities including 42,462 in resorts, 2,032 in hotels, 13,413 in guesthouses and 3,140 in safari vessels. Maldives has a total capacity of 1,143 tourist facilities including 177 resorts, 15 hotels, 796 guesthouses and 155 liveaboard vessels. This means that seven resorts remain inoperative. Guesthouses are operational across 116 islands of 20 atolls, resorts are operational across 172 islands of 19 atolls and hotels are operational across nine islands of eight atolls.

China has remained the leader in tourist arrivals to the Maldives with no signs of slowing down, dominating the top source markets for the second consecutive month of the year.

As such, the ministry’s statistics revealed that although Russia topped the tourist source markets into the third week of January, it was replaced by China into the last week of January.

China has topped the leading source of tourists since then. The ministry’s figures revealed that as 2025 commenced Russia topped the tourist source markets, however, it has since been replaced by China, contributing 15.2 percent of the market share with 54,438 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, Russia now sits at second place on the list. Russia ranks second place contributing 9.9 percent of the market share with 35,391 arrivals recorded by Tuesday.

UK comes third contributing 9.7 percent of the market share with 34,817 arrivals.

Other top tourist markets in 2025 include:

• Italy contributing nine percent with 32,474 arrivals
• Germany contributing six percent with 21,466 arrivals
• India contributing 4.7 percent with 16,727 arrivals
• France contributing four percent with 14,414 arrivals
• United States contributing 3.1 percent with 11,067 arrivals
• Poland contributing 2.3 percent with 8,188 arrivals
• Switzerland contributing two percent with 7,225 arrivals

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

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

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.