Tourism continues to decline, with arrivals down by 5.5 percent
Tourist arrivals to the Maldives during the first 13 days of May have seen a 12.7% decline compared to the same period last year. According to Ministry of Tourism statistics, total arrivals for the year currently stand at 859,687, representing a 5.5% decrease from the previous year. This downward trend in tourist numbers is expected to have a significant negative impact on the national economy and tourism-related businesses.
Porters are transporting tourists' luggage to Trans Maldivian Airways seaplanes at the Velana International Airport seadrome. | getty images
Statistics from the Ministry of Tourism indicate that tourist arrival growth continues to decline, following international travel disruptions caused by ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
According to statistics released by the Ministry, 66,700 tourists visited the Maldives between May 1 and May 13, 2025. However, during the same period last year, the country recorded 58,251 arrivals. This represents a 12.7 percent decline.
Furthermore, a total of 909,474 tourists visited the Maldives between January and May 13, 2025. During the same period this year, the country recorded 859,687 arrivals. This represents a 5.5 percent decline compared to the figures from 2025.
According to the latest arrival statistics for this year, the Maldives has welcomed a total of 839,620 tourists, 6,259 business travelers, and 13,808 passengers arriving via cruise liners. The daily average for tourist arrivals this year currently stands at 6,464. This figure represents a decline compared to the average daily arrival rates recorded during the same period last year.
As of May 13, 2025, the Maldives has recorded an average of 6,838 tourist arrivals per day.
As tourism serves as the backbone of the Maldivian economy, such fluctuations in visitor arrivals are expected to adversely impact resorts, guesthouses, airlines, and other tourism-related businesses.
The Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) and the National Hotels and Guesthouse Association of the Maldives (NHGAM) have expressed grave concern over the declining number of tourist arrivals, calling for urgent government intervention to mitigate the significant impact on the national economy and the tourism industry.
