The release of the Maldives monthly tourism statistics have been delayed for the month of June — procedurally monthly reports are published within the first week of the following month by the Ministry of Tourism.
The Ministry had most recently released its May report on 3 June, with the figures for June yet to be published. Daily statistics, including figures for tourist arrivals, have also been delayed, with the most recent statistics made available on 8 July.
When contacted by local media, the information officer at the Ministry explained that the agency’s statistics department would release the statistics for June within the week.
“In the meantime, one of the staff members at stats [Statistics Department] is on vacation and the other is very sick,” the officer was quoted as saying.
Tourism reports have lagged at a time when tourist arrivals are reported to be on the decline. Even though it is not unusual for the Maldives to see lesser number of visitors during its off season, this year’s arrivals for the period has seen a drastic declined compared to previous years.
Last month saw the lowest month of tourist arrivals in six years according to statistics released by the Ministry — 119,875 tourists arrived last month while 120,959 had arrived in May last year.
The lag in information comes at a time when the administration has received criticism, including from former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom and other key opposition figures, for increasingly keeping previously available public information under wraps.
