Over 60,000 tourists welcomed so far in April

Maldives has welcomed more than 60,000 tourists so far in April.

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 April 1 – 9, 61,531 tourists were welcomed at Velana International Airport (VIA). This is a 16.5 percent increase from the 52,824 arrivals recorded in the same period of 2024 and much higher than the 54,220 arrivals recorded the previous year.

In total, between January 1 and April 9, 693,949 tourists arrived in the Maldives. This is a 5.7 percent surge in comparison to the 656,828 arrivals recorded in 2024 and much higher than the 578,148 arrivals recorded in 2023.

The ministry’s statistics go on to reveal that 483,975 out of the 693,949 visitors that were recorded by Thursday stayed at resorts. This makes up 69.7 percent of the total arrivals. 171,878 tourists make up 24.8 percent of the tourists who stayed at guesthouses, 20,392 tourists make up 2.9 percent of the tourists who stayed at hotels, 17,236 tourists make up 2.5 percent of the tourists who stayed at liveaboard vessels and 324 who stayed at other facilities during this period.

On a monthly basis:

• 214,863 tourist arrivals were recorded between January 1 – 31.
• 214,091 tourist arrivals were recorded between February 1 – 28.
• 203,464 tourist arrivals were recorded between March 1 – 31.

About 6,931 tourists arrived on average every day during January, 7,646 in February and 6,563 in March.

6,837 tourists are arriving on average during April.

Looking at the daily arrivals for April 2025:

• 8,106 tourists were welcomed on April 1
• 7,153 tourists were welcomed on April 2
• 6,468 tourists were welcomed on April 3
• 6,466 tourists were welcomed on April 4
• 7,119 tourists were welcomed on April 5
• 8,004 tourists were welcomed on April 6
• 5,758 tourists were welcomed on April 7
• 6,424 tourists were welcomed on April 8
• 6,033 tourists were welcomed on April 9

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 into the fourth 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. China contributes 11.3 percent of the market share with 78,285 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 10.9 percent of the market share with 75,448 arrivals recorded by Thursday.

The United Kingdom comes third contributing 10.6 percent of the market share with 73,280 arrivals.

Other top tourist markets in 2025 include:

• Italy contributing 8.9 percent with 61,524 arrivals
• Germany contributing 7.3 percent with 50,585 arrivals
• India contributing five percent with 34,529 arrivals
• France contributing four percent with 27,533 arrivals
• United States contributing 3.2 percent with 22,392 arrivals
• Switzerland contributing 2.2 percent with 15,439 arrivals
• Poland contributing two percent with 13,868 arrivals

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.