By Monday, Maldives welcomed over 235,000 tourists.
Latest statistics publicized by the Ministry of Tourism revealed that the country’s total tourist arrivals currently sit at 235,758, as of March 14.
This is 37.3 percent less than the number of tourists recorded for the same period last year, where 376,164 arrivals were recorded. The Ministry also shared that an average of 3,230 tourists were visiting the Maldives every day based on their statistics, with duration of stay recorded at an average of nine days.
So far in March, Maldives has welcomed 46,773 visitors and the highest daily arrivals were recorded on March 7 with 4,325 arrivals, whereas the lowest arrivals were recorded on Wednesday, with 2,368 arrivals. On Sunday Maldives welcomed 4,101 visitors.
Since the beginning of the year up until Sunday, India has remained the top source market for tourism in the Maldives, contributing 23.6 percent of the arrival rate.
Second comes Russia contributing 21.8 percent to the total arrivals, followed by Ukraine contributing 6.6 percent of the arrivals.
Kazakhstan, Germany, Romania, Czech Republic, France, Switzerland and the United States of America are also considered some of the biggest tourist markets for the Maldives.
Further, a total of 671 tourist accommodation establishments are currently in operation with 45,225 beds across the Maldives.
Out of this, 376 are guesthouses with 6, 864 operational beds, 148 resorts with 34,226 beds, 136 liveaboard vessels with 2,677 beds and 11 hotels are also in operation with 1,458 beds. Maldives has a capacity of 1,007 tourist facilities out of which 678 are guesthouses, 159 are resorts, 157 are liveaboard vessels and 13 are hotels.
The ministry revealed that guesthouses are in operation across 55 islands of 18 atolls and 148 resorts across 18 atolls.
Islands where guesthouses are yet to resume operations include:
- Dhidhdhoo island in Haa Alif atoll
- Hoarafushi island in Haa Alif atoll
- Kulhudhuffushi City in Haa Dhaal atoll
- Makunudhoo island in Haa Dhaal atoll
- Nolhivaranfaru island in Haa Dhaal atoll
- Bilehfahi island in Shaviyani atoll
- Komandoo island in Shaviyani atoll
- Velidhoo island in Noonu atoll
- Maakurathu island in Raa atoll
- Hulhudhuffaaru island in Raa atoll
- Rasgetheem island in Raa atoll
- Kendhoo island in Baa atoll
- Kurendhoo island in Lhaviyani atoll
- Naifaru island in Lhaviyani atoll
- Olhuvelifushi island in Lhaviyani atoll
- Rakeedhoo island in Vaavu atoll
- Muli island in Meemu atoll
- Maduvvari island in Meemu atoll
- Magoodhoo island in Faafu atoll
- Rinbudhoo island in Dhaalu atoll
- Veymandoo island in Thaa atoll
- Gaadhiffushi island in Thaa atoll
- Maamendhoo island in Gaaf Alif atoll
- Dhaandhoo island in Gaaf Alif atoll
- Nilandhoo island in Gaaf Alif atoll
- Vaadhoo island in Gaaf Dhaal 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 in 2020, which was foiled by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, due to which authorities halted issuing on-arrival visas on March 27 that 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.
