A new direct connection from Australia has lead to a sharp rise in Australian tourists to Maldives on Sri Lankan Airlines' new Sri Lanka-Maldives packages.

Operators had additionally fueled interest by offering joint Sri Lanka-Maldives tour packages.

Australian tourist arrivals upsurged to Maldives and neighboring Sri Lanka after Sri Lankan Airlines commenced daily flights between Melbourne and Colombo since October 2017 following which  Australian arrivals in Maldives rose up to 40 % with 7,929 tourists between January and March.

According to TTG Asia, a leading media based in the Asia-Pacific travel and tourism industry, assistant Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Heritance Aarah and Adaaran resorts in the Maldives, Suresh Dissanayake had said that " theAustralian market is booming since the flights were launched. Prior to the new service, visitors mostly had to connect through Singapore on Singapore Airlines flights or Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific services."

According to recently appointed Group Head of Sales and Marketing at Maldives local brand Coco Collection Andrew Ashmore, they had after envisioning growth from Australia in the previous year, appointed a GSA in Australia.

Seaplane Operator Trans Maldivian Airways, had also confirmed a soar in Australian arrivals to Maldives resorts.

Australia is the 11th largest source market for the Maldives.