The Maldives has seen a significant uptick in tourism this year, with over 900,000 arrivals recorded so far this year. As of 4 June, 907,066 tourists had visited the country, marking a 9 percent increase compared to the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Tourism.
This surge translates to an additional 91,827 tourists, compared to the 825,239 arrivals recorded during the same period in 2023. However, the first few days of June witnessed a slight dip in arrivals, with a 7 percent decrease compared to the same period in 2023. May 2024 also saw a marginal drop of 0.9 percent in tourist arrivals compared to May 2023.
On average, the Maldives has welcomed 5,818 tourists daily this year. China, with 102,706 tourists, has maintained its position as the top source market, a position it held before the Covid-19 pandemic. The administration is making concerted efforts to attract more Chinese tourists and maintain China as the top source market.
Following China, Russia and the United Kingdom have emerged as the largest source markets, with 91,911 and 86,083 arrivals, respectively. Italy and Germany round out the top five, contributing 75,731 and 73,357 visitors, respectively.
The government has set an ambitious target of attracting over two million tourists this year. Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal remains optimistic that this goal is within reach, given the ongoing promotional efforts.
