Tourist arrivals recorded so far in 2021 by the Maldives has topped 410,000.

Latest statistics publicized by the Ministry of Tourism on Sunday reveal that 410,043 visitors had been welcome at the Velana International Airport between January 1 – May 8.

Of this, 20,273 visitors have been welcomed so far this ongoing month, which is 36.4 percent less than the number recorded the same period in 2019, where 31,876 tourist arrivals were recorded.

Owing to the closing down of borders on 27 March 2020, the number of tourist arrivals recorded from January 1 – May 8 last year was slightly lower. As such, 382,775 visitors were recorded within the period.

According to statistics, visitors are staying for an average of nine days and an average of 3,203 tourists are visiting the Maldives every day.

Maldives celebrated over 100,000 tourist arrivals during March, the highest monthly arrivals recorded since borders were reopened for international travel on 15 July 2020. As such, 109,585 tourist visited Maldives during March. During January 2021, Maldives welcomed 92,103 visitors. The number escalated to 96,882 in February 2021 and 91,200 visitors were welcomed during April.

The highest arrivals this ongoing month was recorded on May 1 at 3,815 visitors. The lowest arrivals were recorded at 1,542 on Thursday. On Sunday Maldives recorded 3,397 arrivals, 2,338 on Monday, 2,041 on Tuesday and 1,943 on Wednesday. After a slight drop in arrivals Maldives welcomed 2,350 visitors on Friday, followed by 2,847 tourists on Saturday.

With arrivals from India, the top source market recorded by the Maldives since border reopening, declining due to the worsening Covid-19 situation in the country, Russia currently dominates the arrival market contributing 22.6 percent with 91,031 arrivals by May 5. Russia was ranked sixth before the Covid-19 pandemic began sweeping across the globe and is followed closely by India making up 21.7 percent with 87,668 arrivals by May 5. Third comes Ukraine, which jumped from the 23rd rank according to pre-Covid stats and currently contributes 5.5 percent of tourist arrivals. 22,265 tourist arrivals were recorded from Ukraine by May 5.

Germany, Kazakhstan, United States, Romania, United Kingdom, Czech Republic and France are also considered some of the biggest tourist markets for the Maldives.

The ministry boasts increasing tourist arrivals, which were snail-paced into the beginning of the country’s tourism-revival journey. As such, an optimistic tourism ministry revealed that the source markets are recovering, with “impressive” results.

Maldives aims to welcome 1.5 million tourist arrivals this ongoing year and is gearing up to mark 50 years since the tourism industry’s inception, in 2022, which is to be celebrated as the golden year of tourism in Maldives.