Tourism Industry Updates from the Maldives- May 2022

During May 2022, the Maldives welcomed 125,522 arrivals, a 21.8 per cent increase compared to pre-pandemic levels. There were twenty-four international airlines operating to the country and over 82 per cent of total registered tourist accommodation facilities have resumed operations.

Low season begins in Maldives from May onwards, with arrivals dropping from 145,280 in April to 125,522 in May. However, this is a 21.8 per cent increase compared to May 2019. Daily average arrivals are 4,049 and average duration of stay drops to 7.4 days from 8.1 days in April. India has surpassed United Kingdom to become the top market with 99,614 total arrivals this year (14.1 per cent), followed by UK with 88,043 arrivals (12.5 per cent) and Russia with 67,088 arrivals (9.5 per cent). Germany and Italy remains in the top five with 59,731 arrivals and 45,198 arrivals respectfully.

There were twenty-four international airlines operating to the country during May. Two new airlines that joined the twenty-two airlines operating from April are Aeroflot from Russia and Eurowings Discover from Germany. Ten scheduled and chartered airlines operate from Europe while six operate from Middle East, three from India and five from other parts of the world.

Regarding tourist facilities, 164 resorts, 660 hotels and guesthouses, and 150 safaris were in operation at the end of May 2022. With total registered facilities standing at 1,185 facilities (60,657 beds), more than 82 per cent have resumed operations. Kaafu atoll features most operating beds with fifty-four resorts (12,934 beds), six hotels (808 beds) and 250 guesthouses (5,884 beds). This is followed by Alifu Dhaalu atoll with sixteen resorts (4,200 beds), one hotel (56 beds) and seventy-four guesthouses (1,030 beds).

Featured Image by Zunnoon Ahmed at Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas, Maldives