K. Male'
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01 Aug 2025 | Fri 18:45
A beach villa at Soneva Jani
Soneva
Tourist arrivals for 2025
Resorts capture 73 percent of tourists visiting the Maldives
73.1 percent of tourists in the Maldives choose to stay at luxury resorts in 2025
Maldives welcomed over 1.28 million tourists between January and July 2025, showing a 9.5 percent increase from 2024
While resorts dominate tourist accommodation choices, guesthouses account for 22 percent of stays, followed by hotels and liveaboard vessels
2,539
So far in 2025, an impressive 73.1 percent of tourists arriving in the Maldives are opting to indulge in the unparalleled luxury of resort stays.
This was revealed by the Ministry of Tourism through its latest weekly tourist arrival statistics published on Thursday.
As such, statistics revealed that Maldives continues to cement its reputation as a premier luxury travel destination, with statistics revealing that 73.1 percent of visitors opt for stays at the nation’s upscale resorts. This trend underscores the enduring appeal of the island nation’s exclusive accommodations and pristine surroundings among global travelers.
So far, 942,096 visitors have opted for the luxury of resorts. 284,037 tourists make up 22 percent of the tourists who stayed at guesthouses, 34,568 tourists make up 2.7 percent of the tourists who stayed at hotels, 26,970 tourists make up 2.1 percent of the tourists who stayed at liveaboard vessels and 896 who stayed at other facilities during this period.
The ministry went on to reveal that between January 1 and July 30, 1,288,568 tourists arrived in the Maldives. This is a 9.5 percent surge in comparison to the 1,176,974 arrivals recorded in 2024 and much higher than the 1,070,769 arrivals recorded in 2023.
On a monthly basis:
- 214,863 tourist arrivals were recorded between January 1 – 31.
- 214,091 tourist arrivals were recorded between February 1 – 28.
- 203,464 tourist arrivals were recorded between March 1 – 31.
- 198,322 tourist arrivals were recorded between April 1 – 30.
- 135,614 tourist arrivals were recorded between May 1 – 31.
- 141,772 tourist arrivals were recorded between June 1 – 30.
The statistics go on to reveal that about 6,931 tourists arrived on average every day during January, 7,646 in February, 6,563 in March, 6,611 during April, 4,375 during May and 4,726 during June. In July, 6,015 tourists arrived on average on a daily basis.
Further, statistics reveal that between July 1 – 30, 180,438 tourists were welcomed at Velana International Airport (VIA). This is an 11.8 percent increase from the 161,445 arrivals recorded in the same period of 2024 and higher than the 141,162 arrivals recorded the previous year.
Looking at the daily arrivals for July 2025:
- 5,219 tourists were welcomed on July 1
- 5,833 tourists were welcomed on July 2
- 5,618 tourists were welcomed on July 3
- 5,627 tourists were welcomed on July 4
- 6,057 tourists were welcomed on July 5
- 5,504 tourists were welcomed on July 6
- 6,213 tourists were welcomed on July 7
- 5,745 tourists were welcomed on July 8
- 6,136 tourists were welcomed on July 9
- 5,707 tourists were welcomed on July 10
- 6,034 tourists were welcomed on July 11
- 6,570 tourists were welcomed on July 12
- 6,007 tourists were welcomed on July 13
- 5,664 tourists were welcomed on July 14
- 5,629 tourists were welcomed on July 15
- 6,569 tourists were welcomed on July 16
- 5,891 tourists were welcomed on July 17
- 5,737 tourists were welcomed on July 18
- 6,227 tourists were welcomed on July 19
- 6,205 tourists were welcomed on July 20
- 6,081 tourists were welcomed on July 21
- 5,949 tourists were welcomed on July 22
- 6,172 tourists were welcomed on July 23
- 5,934 tourists were welcomed on July 24
- 6,268 tourists were welcomed on July 25
- 6,326 tourists were welcomed on July 26
- 6,844 tourists were welcomed on July 27
- 6,346 tourists were welcomed on July 28
- 6,077 tourists were welcomed on July 29
Further, the statistics go on to reveal that China has extended its reign as the top contributor to tourist arrivals in the Maldives, reaffirming its dominant position in the island nation's key economic sector. China has remained the leader in tourist arrivals to the Maldives with no signs of slowing down, dominating the top source markets as the seventh month of the year has ended.
The tourism ministry’s statistics revealed that although Russia topped the tourist source markets into the third week of January, it was replaced by China into the last week of January.
China has topped the leading source of tourists since then. China contributes 14.6 percent of the market share with 188,317 arrivals.
China sat at the top of the list of tourist source markets by the end of 2024 as well.
Russia sits at second place on the list contributing 11.8 percent of the market share with 152,385 arrivals recorded by Friday.
The United Kingdom comes third contributing 9.4 percent of the market share with 120,937 arrivals.
Other top tourist markets in 2025 include:
- Italy contributing 7.2 percent with 93,024 arrivals
- Germany contributing 7.1 percent with 91,364 arrivals
- India contributing 5.8 percent with 75,376 arrivals
- United States contributing 3.1 percent with 39,546 arrivals
- France contributing 2.9 percent with 37,496 arrivals
- Spain contributing two percent with 25,555 arrivals
- Switzerland contributing two percent with 25,404 arrivals
Although Australia was included among the top ten tourist source markets, it was replaced by Spain by mid-July.
Maldives welcomed the one millionth tourist of the year on June 7. Kajal Singh arrived in the Maldives to spend her honeymoon at Malahini Kuda Bandos, and this was her first visit to the Maldives. Visit Maldives announced that this marked the fastest time in the nation's history that tourist arrivals reached the one-million mark within a calendar year. To commemorate the milestone, Minister of Tourism and Environment Thoriq Ibrahim attended a special ceremony at VIA to personally welcome the milestone visitor.
During the ceremony, which emphasized the Maldives' commitment to sustainable tourism, the one millionth tourist of 2025 was invited to plant a tree. Embracing the gesture, the visitor took part in a symbolic tree-planting at Hulhulé, underscoring the nation's ongoing environmental initiatives.
Maldives welcomed 2,046,615 visitors in 2024. In 2023, 1,878,543 tourist arrivals were recorded.
A true jewel of the Indian Ocean, Maldives has been dazzling among passionate travelers since tourism was introduced in the island nation 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.
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