The Maldives’ tourism industry has experienced a surge in visitors. Tourist arrivals increased by 13.1% in April compared to the same month last year, according to Maldives Immigration.
In April, 164,357 tourists visited the island nation. The largest source market is India with 17,577 visitors, followed closely by Russia with 16,979 visitors. Other countries in the top 10 included the United Kingdom, China, Germany, Italy, the United States, Switzerland, France, and Australia.
While Russian tourist arrivals have fallen month-on-month, it remains the largest tourist market in the Maldives so far this year. In January, Russia received 23,180 tourists, while 21,567 visited in February, 20,313 in March, and 16,979 in April.
Before the pandemic, China was the biggest market for the Maldives’ tourism industry. However, with the country recently reopening its borders, the industry expects it to overtake the market before the end of the year.
The surge in tourist arrivals is a promising sign for the Maldives, which heavily relies on the tourism industry for its economy. The government hopes to reach its target of 1.5 million tourist arrivals this year, which would mark a significant milestone in the country’s recovery from the pandemic.