Tourist arrivals surge 10.7 percent from last year

The tourist arrival figure recorded so far in January 2025 has surged by 10.7 percent compared to the same period of 2024.

This was revealed by the Ministry of Tourism through its latest daily tourist arrival statistics published on Wednesday.

As such, the ministry’s latest figures show that 193,175 tourist arrivals were recorded between January 1 – 28.

This is an 10.7 percent surge in comparison to the 174,449 arrivals recorded in the same period last year and much higher than the 155,851 arrivals recorded in the same period of 2023.

About 6,899 tourists are arriving on average every day during January.

Looking at the daily arrivals for January 2025:

5,715 tourists were welcomed on January 1
6,491 tourists were welcomed on January 2
6,421 tourists were welcomed on January 3
6,449 tourists were welcomed on January 4
7,273 tourists were welcomed on January 5
5,579 tourists were welcomed on January 6
5,975 tourists were welcomed on January 7
5,627 tourists were welcomed on January 8
5,259 tourists were welcomed on January 9
6,674 tourists were welcomed on January 10
8,090 tourists were welcomed on January 11
8,174 tourists were welcomed on January 12
6,347 tourists were welcomed on January 13
6,585 tourists were welcomed on January 14
6,385 tourists were welcomed on January 15
5,908 tourists were welcomed on January 16
6,549 tourists were welcomed on January 17
8,031 tourists were welcomed on January 18
7,807 tourists were welcomed on January 19
6,896 tourists were welcomed on January 20
7,447 tourists were welcomed on January 21
6,482 tourists were welcomed on January 22
6,835 tourists were welcomed on January 23
7,226 tourists were welcomed on January 24
9,199 tourists were welcomed on January 25
8,727 tourists were welcomed on January 26
6,891 tourists were welcomed on January 27
8,133 tourists were welcomed on January 28

According to the ministry, 134,714 out of the 193,175 visitors that were recorded by Wednesday stayed at resorts. This makes up 69.7 percent. 49,203 tourists make up 25.5 percent of the tourists who stayed at guesthouses, 4,467 tourists make up 2.3 percent of the tourists who stayed at liveaboard vessels, 4,716 tourists make up 2.4 percent of the tourists who stayed at hotels and 65 who stayed at other facilities during this period.

Maldives welcomed 2,046,615 visitors in 2024. In 2023, 1,878,543 tourist arrivals were recorded.

Presently, 1,135 tourist accommodation establishments are operational across the Maldives, including 174 resorts, 15 hotels, 794 guesthouses and 152 liveaboard vessels. 61,380 beds are operational across these facilities including 42,819 in resorts, 1,996 in hotels, 13,531 in guesthouses and 3,034 in safari vessels. Maldives has a total capacity of 1,139 tourist facilities including 178 resorts, 15 hotels, 794 guesthouses and 152 liveaboard vessels. This means that four resorts remain inoperative. Guesthouses are operational across 110 islands of 20 atolls and hotels are operational across nine islands of eight atolls.

Tourist arrivals for 2024 included:

192,385 visitors welcomed during January
217,392 visitors welcomed during February
194,227 visitors welcomed during March
168,366 visitors welcomed during April
119,875 visitors welcomed during May
123,284 visitors welcomed during June
167,528 visitors welcomed during July
176,175 visitors welcomed during August
132,795 visitors welcomed during September
172,621 visitors welcomed during October
172,987 visitors welcomed during November
208,980 visitors welcomed during December

Although Russia topped the tourist source markets into the third week of January, it has been replaced by China into the last week of January.

As January comes closer to ending, China has topped the leading source of tourists. The ministry’s figures revealed that as 2025 commenced Russia topped the tourist source markets, however, it has since been replaced by China, contributing 15.2 percent of the market share with 29,397 arrivals.

China sat at the top of the list of tourist source markets by the end of 2024 as well. 2024 began with Italy topping the tourist arrival markets of the island nation; however, it was replaced by Russia for a few weeks and then by China for the remainder of the year.

Although Italy ranked second place for a few weeks since the new year began, it was replaced by China for a while and now, Russia sits at second place on the list. Russia ranks second place contributing 10.5 percent of the market share with 20,291 arrivals recorded by Wednesday.

Although U.K came third for the first few weeks, it has been replaced by Italy, contributing 9.7 percent of the market share with 18,779 arrivals.

Other top tourist markets in 2025 include:

U.K contributing 8.8 percent with 17,084 arrivals
Germany contributing 5.8 percent with 11,189 arrivals
India contributing 4.8 percent with 9,184 arrivals
France contributing 3.4 percent with 6,578 arrivals
United States contributing 3.1 percent with 5,988 arrivals
Poland contributing 2.1 percent with 4,081 arrivals
South Korea contributing 1.8 percent with 3,498 arrivals

Although Kazakhstan topped the tourist source markets by mid-January, it has since been replaced by South Korea on the list of top 10 markets.

A true jewel of the Indian Ocean, Maldives has been dazzling among passionate travelers since tourism was introduced in the Maldives in 1972. It is going to be 53 years since the island paradise has been enchanting travelers from around the globe with its unrivaled hospitality and picturesque beauty.