K. Male'
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26 Feb 2025 | Wed 17:59
The first tourist of 2025 and his family being welcomed at the airport
The first tourist of 2025 and his family being welcomed at the airport
Velana Airport
Tourist arrivals for 2025
Tourist arrival figure surpasses 400,000-mark
China has remained the leader in tourist arrivals to the Maldives with no signs of slowing down
1,137 tourist accommodation establishments are operational across the Maldives
283,847 out of the 411,290 visitors that were recorded by Sunday stayed at resorts

The tourist arrival figure recorded so far in the Maldives has exceeded the 400,000-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 in total, 411,290 tourists have arrived in the Maldives so far this year. This is a 6.5 percent surge in comparison to the 386,217 arrivals recorded in 2024 and much higher than the 332,734 arrivals recorded in 2023.

283,847 out of the 411,290 visitors that were recorded by Sunday stayed at resorts. This makes up 69 percent. 106,053 tourists make up 25.8 percent of the tourists who stayed at guesthouses, 11,261 tourists make up 2.7 percent of the tourists who stayed at hotels, 9,855 tourists make up 2.4 percent of the tourists who stayed at liveaboard vessels and 274 who stayed at other facilities during this period.

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 7,857 tourists are arriving on average every day during February.

Between February 1 – 25, 196,427 visitors were recorded, marking a 1.3 percent surge from the 193,832 arrivals recorded in the same period of 2024. It is a lot higher than the 160,235 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
  • 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
  • 6,830 tourists were welcomed on February 19
  • 6,676 tourists were welcomed on February 20
  • 7,963 tourists were welcomed on February 21
  • 8,755 tourists were welcomed on February 22
  • 8,668 tourists were welcomed on February 23
  • 6,585 tourists were welcomed on February 24
  • 6,814 tourists were welcomed on February 25

Presently, 1,137 tourist accommodation establishments are operational across the Maldives, including 172 resorts, 15 hotels, 795 guesthouses and 155 liveaboard vessels. 61,022 beds are operational across these facilities including 42,462 in resorts, 2,032 in hotels, 13,388 in guesthouses and 3,140 in safari vessels. Maldives has a total capacity of 1,142 tourist facilities including 177 resorts, 15 hotels, 795 guesthouses and 155 liveaboard vessels. This means that five 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.

Further, the ministry revealed that 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 13.9 percent of the market share with 57,157 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 9.8 percent of the market share with 40,511 arrivals recorded by Wednesday.

UK comes third contributing 9.8 percent of the market share with 40,203 arrivals.

Other top tourist markets in 2025 include:

  • Italy contributing 9.1 percent with 37,502 arrivals
  • Germany contributing six percent with 24,883 arrivals
  • India contributing 4.7 percent with 19,321 arrivals
  • France contributing 4.1 percent with 17,046 arrivals
  • United States contributing three percent with 12,482 arrivals
  • Poland contributing 2.3 percent with 9,500 arrivals
  • Switzerland contributing 2.1 percent with 8,622 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.

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