The Maldives received 107,515 tourists in May 2024, bringing the total number of arrivals this year to 879,885, according to data released by the Ministry of Tourism. This marks a 1.61 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023, when 105,776 tourists visited the Maldives in May.
China continues to lead as the top source market, with 98,908 Chinese tourists visiting the Maldives, comprising 11.2 percent of the market share. Following the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, India briefly overtook China as the top source market. However, India currently holds the sixth spot in the top source market list.
The Maldives’ appeal extends to a diverse range of countries, with Russia ranking as the second-top source market, contributing 88,585 arrivals, accounting for 10.1 percent of the market share. The United Kingdom follows closely with 83,871 visitors, representing 9.5 percent of the market share.
The Maldives experienced a surge in daily tourist arrivals earlier in the year, reaching a peak of 7,496 per day in February. However, the daily arrivals have since decreased to 3,982 per day in May. On average, tourists stay in the Maldives for 7.8 days during their holiday, with the average duration for May being 7.4 days.
Meanwhile, the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) is engaged in its promotional and marketing endeavours at international tourism fairs and source markets. Currently, MMPRC, accompanied by a delegation of tourism sector stakeholders from the Maldives, is presenting the Maldives at the Riyadh Travel Fair (RTF) 2024.
The primary objective of MMPRC’s presence in Riyadh is to foster growth in tourist arrivals, spotlight various tourism segments, and specifically target affluent travellers within the Middle Eastern luxury segment, the Maldives’ tourism promotion board said.
Held from 27 to 29 May in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Riyadh Travel Fair holds great significance as an annual gathering. This event brings together leading travel and tourism companies from Saudi Arabia, the GCC, and other international entities, uniting with exhibitors representing tourist promotion authorities and companies at both Arab and international levels.