The Maldives is witnessing a remarkable surge in its tourism sector, driven by a significant increase in arrivals from China. This year alone, over 200,000 Chinese tourists have visited the island nation, accounting for a substantial 15% of total arrivals. This remarkable growth can be attributed to the reinstatement of direct flights from China, including those operated by Xiamen Airlines, Chongqing Airlines, and China Eastern, making the Maldives more accessible to Chinese travelers.
With 1.3 million visitors already welcomed in 2024, the Maldives is well on its way to achieving its ambitious goal of 2 million tourists by December. To meet this target, the nation anticipates an additional 700,000 visitors over the coming months.
The Ministry of Tourism’s latest data reveals that Russia follows China in terms of visitor numbers, with 149,920 tourists. The UK and Italy are close behind, with 119,189 and 102,412 tourists respectively. Germany rounds out the top five with 97,804 arrivals.
Tourist arrivals in August saw a notable 14% increase compared to July. However, the first week of September experienced a slight year-on-year decline of 3%. Despite this minor dip, the Maldives currently welcomes an average of 3,900 tourists per day.
In a strategic move to further enhance tourist numbers, the Maldivian government has focused on increasing visitors from India. India, which was the top source of tourists in 2023, has already contributed 83,000 tourists this year. The Ministry of Tourism is launching targeted campaigns with the aim of elevating India to the third spot by the end of the year.
With these ongoing efforts and promotional activities, the Maldives is well-positioned to continue its impressive trend of tourism growth and achieve its ambitious annual goals.
