Over 40,000 tourists welcomed in first week of May

More than 40,000 tourists have been welcomed in the first week of May.

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 May 1 – 7, 40,235 tourists were welcomed at Velana International Airport (VIA). This is an 18.1 percent increase from the 34,074 arrivals recorded in the same period of 2024 and much higher than the 32,076 arrivals recorded the previous year.

Further, between January 1 and May 7, 870,979 tourists arrived in the Maldives. This is an eight percent surge in comparison to the 806,444 arrivals recorded in 2024 and much higher than the 720,361 arrivals recorded in 2023.

The ministry’s statistics go on to reveal that 616,521 out of the 870,979 visitors that were recorded by Thursday stayed at resorts. This makes up 70.8 percent of the total arrivals. 206,723 tourists make up 23.7 percent of the tourists who stayed at guesthouses, 25,813 tourists make up three percent of the tourists who stayed at hotels, 21,723 tourists make up 2.5 percent of the tourists who stayed at liveaboard vessels and 574 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.
• 198,322 tourist arrivals were recorded between March 1 – 30.

The statistics go on to reveal that about 6,931 tourists arrived on average every day during January, 7,646 in February, 6,563 in March and 6,611 tourists arrived on average during April. 5,748 tourists are arriving on average every day during May.

Looking at the daily arrivals for May 2025:

• 7,349 tourists were welcomed on May 1
• 7,263 tourists were welcomed on May 2
• 6,179 tourists were welcomed on May 3
• 5,467 tourists were welcomed on May 4
• 4,740 tourists were welcomed on May 5
• 4,720 tourists were welcomed on May 6

Further, statistics revealed that China has remained the leader in tourist arrivals to the Maldives with no signs of slowing down, dominating the top source markets by the beginning of the fifth 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 98,644 arrivals.

China sat at the top of the list of tourist source markets by the end of 2024 as well.

Russia sits at second place on the list contributing 10.7 percent of the market share with 92,929 arrivals recorded by Thursday.

The United Kingdom comes third contributing 10.4 percent of the market share with 90,671 arrivals.

Other top tourist markets in 2025 include:

• Italy contributing nine percent with 78,338 arrivals
• Germany contributing 7.7 percent with 67,061 arrivals
• India contributing 5.2 percent with 45,539 arrivals
• France contributing 3.7 percent with 32,544 arrivals
• United States contributing 3.2 percent with 27,494 arrivals
• Switzerland contributing 2.4 percent with 20,907 arrivals
• Poland contributing 1.8 percent with 15,597 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 island nation 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.