Arrivals rise 8.3 percent year-on-year in December 2025
The Maldives welcomed 167,009 tourists between December 1-25, 2025, marking an 8.3 percent increase from the same period in 2024. Total arrivals from January to December 25 reached 2,189,070, up 9.9 percent year-over-year. China leads with 15 percent market share, followed by Russia at 12.6 percent and the United Kingdom at nine percent, with most visitors staying at luxury resorts.
Tourists ride bicycles side by side along a wooden boardwalk that stretches over clear turquoise waters in Villa Park Maldives
Tourism has seen a slight upswing in December 2025, with arrivals climbing 8.3 percent compared to the same month last year.
This was revealed by the Ministry of Tourism and Environment through its latest weekly tourist arrival statistics.
As such, the ministry’s statistics revealed that 167,009 tourists touched down at Velana International Airport (VIA) between December 1 and 25. This, is an 8.3 percent increase from the 154,243 arrivals recorded in the same period of 2024 and much higher than the 144,886 tourist arrivals recorded in 2023.
The statistics go on to reveal that 2,189,070 tourists were welcomed between January 1 and December 25. This is a 9.9 percent increase in comparison to the 1,991,878 arrivals recorded in the same period last year, and much higher than the 1,828,733 arrivals recorded in the same period of 2023.
So far, 1,608,927 visitors have opted for the luxury of resorts. 475,586 tourists make up 21.7 percent of the tourists who stayed at guesthouses, 56,856 tourists make up 2.6 percent of the tourists who stayed at hotels, 45,753 tourists make up 2.1 percent of the tourists who stayed at liveaboard vessels and 1,935 who stayed at other facilities during this period.
The ministry’s statistics go on to indicate that China has reaffirmed its dominant position in the island nation's key economic sector, remaining the leader in tourist arrivals to the Maldives with no signs of slowing down as the year nears ending.
China contributes 15 percent of the market share with 327,411 arrivals. Russia sits at second place on the list contributing 12.6 percent of the market share with 269,875 arrivals. The United Kingdom comes third contributing nine percent of the market share with 197,750 arrivals.
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 has been 53 years since the island paradise has been enchanting travelers from around the globe with its unrivaled hospitality and picturesque beauty.
