The tourist arrival figure recorded so far this year, has topped 1.4 million, with China continuing to contribute the greatest number of arrivals.
This was revealed by the Ministry of Tourism through its latest daily tourist arrival statistics publicized on Tuesday.
As such, the ministry’s figures indicate that between January 1 – September 16, Maldives welcomed 1,426,697 tourists.
Arrivals so far this year, are a 10.2 percent increase from the 1,294,875 arrivals recorded in the same period last year, and a significant growth from the 1,137,181 arrivals recorded in 2022.
The daily average for 2024 so far, is 5,487 and tourists are staying for an average of eight days.
The highest number of tourist arrivals recorded on a daily basis so far this year, was on February 10, when more than 10,000 tourist arrivals were recorded.
Maldives welcomed 1.8 million tourists in 2023 and aspires to welcome two million tourists this year.
Tourist arrivals for this year include:
- 192,385 visitors welcomed during January
- 217,392 visitors welcomed during February
- 194,227 visitors welcomed during March
- 168,366 visitors welcomed during April
- 119,875 visitors welcomed during May
- 123,284 visitors welcomed during June
- 167,528 visitors welcomed during July
- 176,151 visitors welcomed during August
Between September 1 – 16, 67,465 tourists touched down at Velana International Airport (VIA).
Arrivals for September are a 4.1 percent surge in comparison to the 64,794 arrivals recorded in the same period last year and a lot more than the 58,538 arrivals recorded in the same period of 2022.
About 4,217 tourists are arriving on average every day during September and tourists are staying for eight days.
Looking at the daily arrivals for September
- 4,101 tourists were welcomed on September 1
- 4,516 tourists were welcomed on September 2
- 3,716 tourists were welcomed on September 3
- 4,104 tourists were welcomed on September 4
- 3,398 tourists were welcomed on September 5
- 3,805 tourists were welcomed on September 6
- 3,682 tourists were welcomed on September 7
- 4,045 tourists were welcomed on September 8
- 4,301 tourists were welcomed on September 9
- 3,807 tourists were welcomed on September 10
- 4,328 tourists were welcomed on September 11
- 3,700 tourists were welcomed on September 12
- 4,773 tourists were welcomed on September 13
- 5,202 tourists were welcomed on September 14
- 5,083 tourists were welcomed on September 15
- 4,904 tourists were welcomed on September 16
Further, the ministry’s figures revealed that China remains the top source for tourist arrivals.
China sits at the top of the list of tourist source markets, contributing 14.6 percent of the market share with 208,428 arrivals by September 16.
The year began with Italy topping the tourist arrival markets of the island nation, however it was replaced by Russia for a few weeks.
Although the United Kingdom ranked second place for a while, it was replaced by Russia once more.
Russia now contributes 10.9 percent of the market share with 154,872 arrivals recorded so far.
Russia dominated the tourist arrival markets of the Maldives by the end of 2023.
UK currently ranks third place in the top 10 markets, contributing 8.6 percent of the market share with 122,198 arrivals.
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:
- Italy contributing 7.3 percent with 104,217 arrivals
- Germany contributing 7.1 percent with 100,796 arrivals
- India contributing six percent with 86,229 arrivals
- United States contributing 3.4 percent with 48,327 arrivals
- France contributing 2.8 percent with 40,265 arrivals
- Spain contributing 2.2 percent with 31,983 arrivals
- Switzerland contributing 1.9 percent with 26,493 arrivals
Although Poland was included among the top 10 tourist source markets halfway into the year, it was recently replaced by Spain.
Welcoming the first tourist of 2024 to the Maldives back in January, Minister of Tourism Ibrahim Faisal noted that it was 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.
Maldives welcomed the one millionth tourist of the year, six months in, on June 27.
Tourism was introduced in the Maldives in 1972. It has been 52 years since zealous travelers have been visiting the Maldives which has been drawing in visitors with its picturesque beauty for years.
