The Maldives has set a new post-pandemic record by welcoming 8,900 tourists in a single day. This milestone, achieved on 3 February, represents the highest number of tourist arrivals recorded in a single day since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The previous post-pandemic record was set on 23 December 2023, when the Maldives welcomed 8,054 visitors.
The record for the most number of tourists welcomed in a single day remains unbroken since 2019, when over 9,000 visitors arrived.
As of 6 February, the Maldives had welcomed 236,730 visitors, marking a 13.7 percent increase compared to the same period last year. In 2023, the arrival of 208,162 tourists was recorded during the same period.
China has emerged as the top source market for the Maldives this year, with 28,304 Chinese travellers accounting for 12 percent of the market share. China was the third-leading source market for the Maldives in 2023.
Italy follows China with 23,749 tourist arrivals, accounting for 10 percent of the market share. Russia is next, with 23,399 visitors. The United Kingdom and India are also significant contributors, with the UK bringing in 19,897 tourists and India 17,794. Other countries making it to the top ten source markets include Germany, France, the United States, Poland, and Switzerland.
The Maldives has set a national target of attracting over two million visitors this year. However, Ibrahim Faisal, the Minister of Tourism, later stated that, given the current arrival trends, the Maldives is expected to attract over 2.3 million tourists this year.