Maldives welcomes over 100,000 tourists for fifth consecutive month

Maldives has welcomed more than 100,000 tourists for the fifth consecutive month of the year, reaffirming its status as one of the world’s leading luxury travel destinations.

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

As such, the ministry’s statistics show that between May 1 – 27, 119,468 tourists were welcomed at Velana International Airport (VIA). This is an 11.1 percent increase from the 107,522 arrivals recorded in the same period of 2024 and much higher than the 105,776 arrivals recorded the previous year.

The ministry’s statistics go on to reveal that between January 1 and May 27, 950,212 tourists arrived in the Maldives. This is an eight percent surge in comparison to the 879,892 arrivals recorded in 2024 and much higher than the 794,061 arrivals recorded in 2023.

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 April 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. 4,425 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
• 4,517 tourists were welcomed on May 7
• 4,134 tourists were welcomed on May 8
• 4,877 tourists were welcomed on May 9
• 4,812 tourists were welcomed on May 10
• 4,342 tourists were welcomed on May 11
• 4,431 tourists were welcomed on May 12
• 3,869 tourists were welcomed on May 13
• 3,766 tourists were welcomed on May 14
• 3,391 tourists were welcomed on May 15
• 3,941 tourists were welcomed on May 16
• 3,567 tourists were welcomed on May 17
• 3,744 tourists were welcomed on May 18
• 3,768 tourists were welcomed on May 19
• 3,769 tourists were welcomed on May 20
• 3,508 tourists were welcomed on May 21
• 3,456 tourists were welcomed on May 22
• 3,962 tourists were welcomed on May 23
• 4,172 tourists were welcomed on May 24
• 3,939 tourists were welcomed on May 25
• 4,173 tourists were welcomed on May 26
• 3,612 tourists were welcomed on May 27

Further, 677,848 visitors have opted for the luxury of resorts so far. This makes up 71.3 percent of the total arrivals. 220,581 tourists make up 23.2 percent of the tourists who stayed at guesthouses, 27,791 tourists make up 2.9 percent of the tourists who stayed at hotels, 23,331 tourists make up 2.5 percent of the tourists who stayed at liveaboard vessels and 660 who stayed at other facilities during this period.

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 into 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 11.8 percent of the market share with 112,594 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 10.8 percent of the market share with 102,824 arrivals recorded by Wednesday.

The United Kingdom comes third contributing 10.3 percent of the market share with 97,561 arrivals.

Other top tourist markets in 2025 include:

• Italy contributing 8.5 percent with 81,218 arrivals
• Germany contributing 7.7 percent with 72,822 arrivals
• India contributing 5.7 percent with 53,800 arrivals
• France contributing 3.6 percent with 33,920 arrivals
• United States contributing 3.2 percent with 29,950 arrivals
• Switzerland contributing 2.3 percent with 21,783 arrivals
• Austria contributing 1.8 percent with 17,309 arrivals

Although Poland was included among the top ten tourist source markets for the year, Austria replaced the country in the past few days.

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.