China leads as tourist arrivals in Maldives top 1.9 million

Visit Maldives Targets 2.4 Million Visitors for Next Year

The Maldives has welcomed over 1.9 million tourists so far this year, according to the latest statistics released by the Ministry of Tourism. The figures highlight the continued strength of the country’s tourism sector—its main economic driver—despite global market fluctuations.

As of this week, China has reclaimed its position as the Maldives’ largest source market, contributing 300,325 arrivals. This marks a strong post-pandemic recovery for the Chinese market, which had been absent from the top rankings for several years due to travel restrictions.

Russia ranked second with 239,000 arrivals, followed by the United Kingdom (168,597), Germany (141,739), Italy (124,406), and India (109,297).

The Ministry noted that tourist arrivals have increased by 9.8 percent compared to the same period last year. The Maldives is currently welcoming an average of 6,025 tourists per day, maintaining healthy occupancy across the country’s diverse accommodation options.

The majority of visitors continue to choose resorts, which have hosted 1.4 million tourists so far this year. Guesthouses—a growing segment of the industry—received 408,608 guests, while liveaboard safari vessels served 39,475 tourists.

Despite the strong performance, the Maldives still faces a challenge in meeting its 2024 target of 2.3 million visitors, with just under two months remaining in the year and over 400,000 more arrivals needed to reach that goal.

Looking ahead, the government has revised its forecast for 2025, estimating 2.2 million tourist arrivals in the national budget submitted to Parliament. However, the target for 2026 has been set higher, at 2.4 million arrivals, reflecting optimism in the sector’s long-term growth and the anticipated expansion of new markets and flight connections.

With robust arrivals from traditional markets and the resurgence of Chinese travelers, industry observers remain confident that the Maldives’ tourism industry will continue to flourish, reinforcing its position as one of the world’s most sought-after island destinations.