Over 60,000 tourist arrivals have been recorded thus far this year.
Latest statistics publicized by the Ministry of Tourism reveal that a total of 60,581 visitors had arrived in the Maldives by Thursday. This is 48.5 percent less than the number of tourists recorded for the same period last year. The Ministry also shared that an average of 2,880 tourists were visiting the Maldives every day based on their statistics.
The highest daily tourist arrival rate was recorded on January 3, when 4,195 tourists arrived in the Maldives, 4,160 arrivals were recorded on January 2.
On Sunday, Maldives recorded 3,581 tourist arrivals, followed by 2,281 tourist arrivals on Monday. Tuesday saw 2,786 visitors arrive in the country, whereas 1,872 arrivals were recorded on Wednesday. The arrival rate by the time Thursday approached increased twofold, to 2,982.
Statistics identify Russia as the top-source market for tourist arrivals to the country. 13,880 Russian tourists visited the Maldives within the 21 days, making up a 24.1 percent of total arrivals.
Aside from Russia, neighboring India is the next biggest market for tourism in the Maldives, with 10,623 Indian tourists having traveled to Maldives year, this makes up 18.4 percent of the arrival rate. Third comes Ukraine with 5,020 arrivals contributing 8.7 percent of the total arrivals.
Kazakhstan, France, Romania, Germany, United Kingdom, the United States and Switzerland are also considered some of the biggest tourist markets for the Maldives.
Arrivals from these countries have been recorded at:
- Kazakhstan contributing 5.2 percent with 3,023 arrivals,
- France contributing 3.9 percent with 2,252 arrivals,
- Romania contributing 3.9 percent with 2,242 arrivals,
- Germany contributing 3.6 percent with 2,070 arrivals,
- United Kingdom contributing 3.3 percent with 1,900 arrivals,
- United States contributing 2.3 percent with 1,312 arrivals,
- Switzerland contributing 1.9 percent with 1,072 arrivals.
307 guesthouses are currently operational across 47 islands in 15 atolls, with 5,800 beds. This is included among the 594 tourist establishments made operational to provide services to tourists, with a total of 42,776 beds. Out of this, 11 hotels are operating 1,458 beds, 142 resorts and marinas operating 32,930 beds and 134 liveaboard vessels operating 2,588 beds.
Guesthouses currently in operation are:
- Six in Haa Alif atoll,
- Two in Haa Dhaal atoll,
- One in Shaviyani atoll,
- One in Noonu atoll,
- 12 in Baa atoll,
- 136 in Kaafu atoll,
- 69 in Alif Alif atoll,
- 35 in Alif Dhaal atoll,
- 24 in Vavvu atoll,
- One in Faafu atoll,
- One in Thaa atoll,
- Two in Laamu atoll,
- Two in Gaaf Dhaal atoll,
- Nine in Gnaviyani atoll,
- Six in Seenu atoll.
The country saw a record-breaking 1.7 million tourist arrivals during 2019 and an optimistic government set a vision to break the record with two million arrivals, which was foiled by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, due to which authorities halted issuing on-arrival visas on March 27, last year.
Nearly four months later, Maldives tourism began reviving, albeit snail-paced at first, from July 15, arrivals began increasing steadily over the past couple of months. Maldives was able to exceed its new target of 545,000, by the end of December 2020 and aims to welcome 1.5 million tourist arrivals this ongoing year.
