The arrival figure recorded so far in February 2024 is a 26.1 percent surge from the same period of 2023.
This was revealed by the Ministry of Tourism through its latest daily tourist arrival statistics publicized on Wednesday.
As such, the ministry revealed that February’s arrivals so far are a 26.1 percent increase from the 81,342 arrivals recorded in the same period last year, and a significant growth from the 64,423 arrivals recorded in 2022.
Between February 1 – 13, a total of 102,538 arrivals were recorded.
Since the new year began, Maldives has welcomed a total of 294,923 visitors.
During January the country welcomed 192,385 visitors.
The arrival figure for this year has seen an increase of 16.2 percent from the 253,841 arrivals recorded in the same period last year, and a significant growth from the 196,188 arrivals recorded in 2022.
The daily average for 2024 so far, is 6,703 and tourists are staying for an average of eight days.
Looking at the daily arrivals for February:
- 6,598 tourists were welcomed on February 1
- 6,587 tourists were welcomed on February 2
- 8,900 tourists were welcomed on February 3
- 8,032 tourists were welcomed on February 4
- 6,708 tourists were welcomed on February 5
- 7,520 tourists were welcomed on February 6
- 7,188 tourists were welcomed on February 7
- 7,585 tourists were welcomed on February 8
- 7,872 tourists were welcomed on February 9
- 10,213 tourists were welcomed on February 10
- 9,646 tourists were welcomed on February 11
- 7,833 tourists were welcomed on February 12
- 7,856 tourists were welcomed on February 13
- 7,392 tourists were welcomed on February 14
The highest number of tourist arrivals recorded on a daily basis so far this year, was in February 10, when more than 10,000 tourist arrivals were recorded.
Statistics go on to indicate that while the new year began with Italy topping the tourist arrival markets of the island nation it was replaced by Russia for a few weeks and China currently sits at the top of the list, contributing 13.9 percent of the market share with 40,892 arrivals by February 13.
Russia dominated the tourist arrival markets of the Maldives by the end of 2023 and currently ranks second place in the top 10 markets, contributing 9.8 percent of the market share with 28,973 arrivals.
Italy has toppled to third spot and now contributes 9.3 percent of the market share with 27,552 arrivals recorded so far.
Although India was among the top three source markets into the beginning of the year, it was replaced by China.
Other top tourist markets so far in 2024 are:
- United Kingdom contributing 8.9 percent with 26,120 arrivals
- India contributing 7.1 percent with 20,903 arrivals
- Germany contributing 6.1 percent with 17,943 arrivals
- France contributing 3.6 percent with 10,542 arrivals
- United States contributing 3.3 percent with 9,651 arrivals
- Poland contributing 2.7 percent with 7,875 arrivals
- Switzerland contributing 2.3 percent with 6,752 arrivals
Although Kazakhstan was among the top source markets, it has been replaced by Switzerland.
Statistics go on to reveal that a total of 1,146 tourist facilities are currently open for services to tourists across the archipelago nation, including 175 resorts, 15 hotels, 816 guesthouses and 140 liveaboard vessels.
61,586 beds are operational across these facilities including 43,123 in resorts, 13,747 in guesthouses, 2,016 in hotels and 2,700 in liveaboard vessels.
The first tourist visitor of the new year was welcomed during a special ceremony held at Velana International Airport (VIA) in the early hours of January 1. A Benjamin Duncan Moore, the first tourist of 2024 hails from the United Kingdom and arrived in the island nation on an Emirates flight.
Welcoming the first tourist of 2024 to the Maldives, Minister of Tourism Ibrahim Faisal noted that this is a fantastic start to what promises to be another successful year for the Maldives’ tourism industry.
He expressed keen interest in diversifying and exploring additional markets to reach this year’s arrival target.
Tourism was introduced in the Maldives in 1972. It has been 50 years since zealous travelers have been visiting the Maldives which has been drawing in visitors with its picturesque beauty for years.
