Maldives targets 3 million annual tourists by 2026 with focus on India, China

The Maldives government is targeting to boost annual tourist arrivals to an unprecedented three million by 2026, according to Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal.

Speaking on PSM’s ‘Raajje Miadhu’ programme, Minister Faisal expressed confidence that the goal would be within reach following the completion of the new passenger terminal at Velana International Airport (VIA), anticipated to be operational by next year.

“I am optimistic that under President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s administration, the Maldives will witness the highest number of tourist arrivals in its history, potentially reaching between three to four million,” said Faisal.

Tourism remains the cornerstone of the Maldivian economy, yet despite an increase in arrivals, Faisal voiced concerns over the decline in tourism revenue. He emphasised a strategic focus on key markets, particularly India and China, with a target of attracting 500,000 tourists from each of these countries.

“The Maldives can easily draw a million tourists from these two markets alone,” he added, underscoring the critical importance of revitalising these segments.

This year, the Maldives is aiming for a record two million tourist arrivals. Minister Faisal believes that the goal is within reach, especially with renewed efforts to target the Indian market. Although India was the top source market earlier in the year and maintained this position throughout the pandemic, it has recently slipped to sixth place, with 73,258 arrivals as of August 7.

In response to this decline, the Maldives has ramped up its promotional efforts in India. Faisal expressed his determination to see India regain its position among the top three source markets by year-end.

“Our objective is to elevate India from sixth to the top three,” he stated.

The opening of the new terminal at VIA is expected to attract additional airlines, further enhancing connectivity to the Maldives. The Tourism Ministry is currently collaborating with the Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) on tourism promotional activities to support this influx.

During a recent visit to India, Faisal met with Indian Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu to discuss enhancing connectivity and encouraging more Indian airlines to operate in the Maldives. He also met with Indian Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat to explore avenues for increasing tourist arrivals and investments in the Maldivian tourism sector.

These meetings were held alongside the ‘Welcome India’ roadshows in New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore. Building on the momentum of these events, the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) plans to continue implementing strategic initiatives to boost arrivals from India, aiming to restore it as one of the top three source markets.

Upcoming promotional activities include the Globalspa campaign, joint marketing partnerships with Cleartrip and Pickyourtrail, and familiarisation trips, all designed to reinforce the Maldives’ standing as a premier destination for Indian travellers.

Having won the World Travel Awards’ title of World’s Leading Destination for four consecutive years, the Maldives is well on its way to achieving its record-breaking target of two million tourist arrivals this year, with over 1.2 million already recorded.