The Maldives continues to shine as a top travel destination, with nearly 70,000 tourists arriving in the first half of September alone, highlighting the nation's enduring appeal to global travelers.

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

As such, the tourism ministry revealed that 66,561 tourists touched down at Velana International Airport (VIA) between September 1 – 15. This, is a 15.8 percent increase from the 57,479 arrivals recorded in the same period of 2024 and much higher than the 56,039 tourist arrivals recorded in 2023.

The statistics go on to reveal that 1,553,487 tourists were welcomed between January 1 and September 15. This is a 9.7 percent increase in comparison to the 1,416,711 arrivals recorded in the same period last year, and much higher than the 1,286,120 arrivals recorded in the same period of 2023.

The ministry went on to reveal that about 6,931 tourists arrived on average every day during January, 7,646 in February, 6,563 in March, 6,611 during April, 4,375 during May, 4,726 during June, 6,024 during July, and 6,601 during August. During September, 4,754 visitors have been recorded on a daily average.

Further, the ministry’s statistics indicate that Maldives continues to cement its reputation as a premier luxury travel destination, with statistics revealing that 73.4 percent of visitors opt for stays at the nation’s upscale resorts. This trend underscores the enduring appeal of the island nation’s exclusive accommodations and pristine surroundings among global travelers.

So far, 1,140,756 visitors have opted for the luxury of resorts. 339,327 tourists make up 21.8 percent of the tourists who stayed at guesthouses, 40,327 tourists make up 2.6 percent of the tourists who stayed at hotels, 31,942 tourists make up 2.1 percent of the tourists who stayed at liveaboard vessels and 1,135 who stayed at other facilities during this period.

Further, China has extended its reign as the top contributor to tourist arrivals in the Maldives, reaffirming its dominant position in the island nation's key economic sector. China has remained the leader in tourist arrivals to the Maldives with no signs of slowing down, dominating the top source markets as the ninth month of the year began.

The tourism 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 15.8 percent of the market share with 246,063 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 12 percent of the market share with 186,927 arrivals recorded by Monday.

The United Kingdom comes third contributing nine percent of the market share with 139,368 arrivals.

Although Switzerland was included in the list of top ten tourist source markets earlier, it was replaced by the final week of August.

Maldives welcomed the one millionth tourist of the year on June 7. Kajal Singh arrived in the Maldives to spend her honeymoon at Malahini Kuda Bandos, and this was her first visit to the Maldives. Visit Maldives announced that this marked the fastest time in the nation's history that tourist arrivals reached the one-million mark within a calendar year. To commemorate the milestone, the Minister of Tourism and Environment attended a special ceremony at VIA to personally welcome the milestone visitor.

During the ceremony, which emphasized the Maldives' commitment to sustainable tourism, the one millionth tourist of 2025 was invited to plant a tree. Embracing the gesture, the visitor took part in a symbolic tree-planting at Hulhulé, underscoring the nation's ongoing environmental initiatives.

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.