Tourist arrivals in 2025 see four percent surge over 2024

The tourist arrival figure recorded so far in 2025 is a four percent surge compared to the same period last year, signaling a strong recovery and continue growth for the island nation’s tourism industry.

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

As such, the ministry’s statistics show that between January 1 and March 26, 593,956 tourists arrived in the Maldives. This is a four percent surge in comparison to the 570,898 arrivals recorded in 2024 and much higher than the 500,609 arrivals recorded in 2023.

Further, between March 1 – 26, 165,002 visitors were recorded, marking a 2.4 percent surge from the 161,121 arrivals recorded in the same period of 2024. It is a lot higher than the 150,195 arrivals recorded in 2023.

410,028 out of the 593,956 visitors that were recorded by Thursday stayed at resorts. This makes up 69 percent of the total arrivals. 151,393 tourists make up 25.5 percent of the tourists who stayed at guesthouses, 17,172 tourists make up 2.9 percent of the tourists who stayed at hotels, 14,936 tourists make up 2.5 percent of the tourists who stayed at liveaboard vessels and 324 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.

In February, Maldives welcomed 214,091 tourists. This figure is a 1.5 percent decline from the 217,392 arrivals recorded in the same period of 2024. However, it is higher than the 177,915 arrivals recorded in 2023.

About 6,931 tourists arrived on average every day during January and 7,646 in February.

6,346 tourists are arriving on average every day during March.

Looking at the daily arrivals for March 2025:

• 8,447 tourists were welcomed on March 1
• 8,128 tourists were welcomed on March 2
• 6,025 tourists were welcomed on March 3
• 6,386 tourists were welcomed on March 4
• 5,466 tourists were welcomed on March 5
• 5,552 tourists were welcomed on March 6
• 5,591 tourists were welcomed on March 7
• 7,417 tourists were welcomed on March 8
• 6,912 tourists were welcomed on March 9
• 5,621 tourists were welcomed on March 10
• 5,734 tourists were welcomed on March 11
• 5,820 tourists were welcomed on March 12
• 5,251 tourists were welcomed on March 13
• 5,923 tourists were welcomed on March 14
• 7,482 tourists were welcomed on March 15
• 7,172 tourists were welcomed on March 16
• 6,137 tourists were welcomed on March 17
• 6,056 tourists were welcomed on March 18
• 5,673 tourists were welcomed on March 19
• 5,658 tourists were welcomed on March 20
• 5,894 tourists were welcomed on March 21
• 7,820 tourists were welcomed on March 22
• 8,090 tourists were welcomed on March 23
• 5,716 tourists were welcomed on March 24

The statistics go on to reveal 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 third 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 11.9 percent of the market share with 70,79710 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.

Russia sits at second place on the list contributing 10.6 percent of the market share with 63,241 arrivals recorded by Thursday.

The United Kingdom comes third contributing 10.2 percent of the market share with 60,872 arrivals.

Other top tourist markets in 2025 include:

• Italy contributing 9.3 percent with 55,377 arrivals
• Germany contributing 7.1 percent with 41,958 arrivals
• India contributing five percent with 29,601 arrivals
• France contributing 4.1 percent with 24,443 arrivals
• United States contributing 3.2 percent with 18,894 arrivals
• Poland contributing 2.2 percent with 12,966 arrivals
• Switzerland contributing 2.2 percent with 12,901 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.