maldives tourist arrivals by country

Total tourist arrivals

This shows the total number of inbound tourist arrivals to the Maldives. This represents total arrivals data reported by Ministry of Tourism.

Maldives - International tourism, number of arrivals

The value for International tourism, number of arrivals in Maldives was 555,000 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 25 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 1,703,000 in 2019 and a minimum value of 315,000 in 1995.

Definition: International inbound tourists (overnight visitors) are the number of tourists who travel to a country other than that in which they have their usual residence, but outside their usual environment, for a period not exceeding 12 months and whose main purpose in visiting is other than an activity remunerated from within the country visited. When data on number of tourists are not available, the number of visitors, which includes tourists, same-day visitors, cruise passengers, and crew members, is shown instead. Sources and collection methods for arrivals differ across countries. In some cases data are from border statistics (police, immigration, and the like) and supplemented by border surveys. In other cases data are from tourism accommodation establishments. For some countries number of arrivals is limited to arrivals by air and for others to arrivals staying in hotels. Some countries include arrivals of nationals residing abroad while others do not. Caution should thus be used in comparing arrivals across countries. The data on inbound tourists refer to the number of arrivals, not to the number of people traveling. Thus a person who makes several trips to a country during a given period is counted each time as a new arrival.

Source: World Tourism Organization, Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files.

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Development Relevance: Tourism is officially recognized as a directly measurable activity, enabling more accurate analysis and more effective policy. Whereas previously the sector relied mostly on approximations from related areas of measurement (e.g. Balance of Payments statistics), tourism today possesses a range of instruments to track its productive activities and the activities of the consumers that drive them: visitors (both tourists and excursionists). An increasing number of countries have opened up and invested in tourism development, making tourism a key driver of socio-economic progress through export revenues, the creation of jobs and enterprises, and infrastructure development. As an internationally traded service, inbound tourism has become one of the world's major trade categories. For many developing countries it is one of the main sources of foreign exchange income and a major component of exports, creating much needed employment and development opportunities.

Limitations and Exceptions: Tourism can be either domestic or international. The data refers to international tourism, where the traveler's country of residence differs from the visiting country. International tourism consists of inbound (arrival) and outbound (departures) tourism. The data are from the World Tourism Organization (WTO), a United Nations agency. The data on inbound and outbound tourists refer to the number of arrivals and departures, not to the number of people traveling. Thus a person who makes several trips to a country during a given period is counted each time as a new arrival. The data on inbound tourism show the arrivals of nonresident tourists (overnight visitors) at national borders. When data on international tourists are unavailable or incomplete, the data show the arrivals of international visitors, which include tourists, same-day visitors, cruise passengers, and crew members. Sources and collection methods for arrivals differ across countries. In some cases data are from border statistics (police, immigration, and the like) and supplemented by border surveys. In other cases data are from tourism accommodation establishments. For some countries number of arrivals is limited to arrivals by air and for others to arrivals staying in hotels. Some countries include arrivals of nationals residing abroad while others do not. Caution should thus be used in comparing arrivals across countries.

Statistical Concept and Methodology: Statistical information on tourism is based mainly on data on arrivals and overnight stays along with balance of payments information. These data do not completely capture the economic phenomenon of tourism or provide the information needed for effective public policies and efficient business operations. Data are needed on the scale and significance of tourism. Information on the role of tourism in national economies is particularly deficient. Although the World Tourism Organization reports progress in harmonizing definitions and measurement, differences in national practices still prevent full comparability. Arrivals data measure the flows of international visitors to the country of reference: each arrival corresponds to one in inbound tourism trip. If a person visits several countries during the course of a single trip, his/her arrival in each country is recorded separately. In an accounting period, arrivals are not necessarily equal to the number of persons travelling (when a person visits the same country several times a year, each trip by the same person is counted as a separate arrival). Arrivals data should correspond to inbound visitors by including both tourists and same-day non-resident visitors. All other types of travelers (such as border, seasonal and other short-term workers, long-term students and others) should be excluded as they do not qualify as visitors. Data are obtained from different sources: administrative records (immigration, traffic counts, and other possible types of controls), border surveys or a mix of them. If data are obtained from accommodation surveys, the number of guests is used as estimate of arrival figures; consequently, in this case, breakdowns by regions, main purpose of the trip, modes of transport used or forms of organization of the trip are based on complementary visitor surveys.

Aggregation method: Gap-filled total

Periodicity: Annual

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Topic: Private Sector & Trade Indicators

Sub-Topic: Travel & tourism

Note: This page was last updated on December 28, 2019

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Maldives’ tourism looking up after reopening

• Asia and the Pacific

Despite challenges faced during the year, the Maldives welcomed a total of 555,494 international tourists in 2020. In January 2021, arrival numbers stood at 92,103 and it increased to 99,397 by 3rd February 2021 with a daily average of 2,923 tourists. Though this was a decline of 47.5% compared with that of 2020, tourists are seen spending their holidays for longer duration, extending the average duration of stay in the Maldives from 7.2 days in 2020 to 9.2 days in 2021.

The Maldives observed significant changes to its top markets since re-opening of borders on 15 July 2020. As of 3rd February 2021, Russia stood at the top as the number one market with 23% shares and 22,365 tourists. India followed closely behind with 21% shares and 20,933 tourists. Ukraine, which made it to the top market list of Maldives after the re-opening of borders, stood third in the list contributing 7.8% shares with 7,709 tourists. Other top source markets include Kazakhstan (4.9%), France (4.5%), Romania (3.8%), Germany (3.7%), United Kingdom (2.6%), Czech Republic (2.2%) and U.S.A (2.1%).

The Maldives is seeing optimistic results with recovery trends from Central/Eastern Europe and South Asian region as well as some markets from the Middle East and Americas. Central/Eastern Europe and South Asia posted a double-digit growth of 63.9% and 24.6% respectively in 2021 as of 3rd February. Individual markets such as Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Romania posted growth rates over 100%.

Since the re-opening of Maldives borders, 27 scheduled airlines are operating to the Maldives, from various countries across the globe, most of them being long haul. The highest number of movements and passengers came from Emirates, Qatar Airways, Indigo, Go Air and Aeroflot. With the rapid growth in new markets from Central and Eastern Europe, 6 flights from the region are now operating to the Maldives.

Looking at COVID-19 situation in the Maldives, as of 3rd February over 3000 samples are being tested daily, which includes departure samples. The tourist’s positivity rate, as a percentage of total arrivals remain significantly low at 0.08% in January 2021. As of 3rd February 2021, there are 3 COVID-19 hospital facilities in greater Male’ area with 266 beds and additional 6 COVID-19 hospital facilities across the country with a total of 188 beds. In isolation facilities, tourists stay in private areas with special arrangements and are closely monitored by healthcare professionals.

The Maldives tourism recovery drive has been anchored on facilitating maximum safety and security possible to tourists, employees and the public, with minimal inconvenience.  With over 87% of the total 51,000 beds now in operation in resorts, hotels and guesthouses, and liveaboard safari boats, Maldives expects to welcome 1.5 million tourists and 10 million bed nights in 2021.

Please download

• Maldives Tourism Updates 2023 Issue - 29  as of 20 July 2023  here . 
• Maldives Tourism Updates 2023 Issue - 09  as of 02 March 2023  here . 
• Maldives Tourism Bulletin, June 2023, here

Maldives Tourist Arrivals

Tourist arrivals in maldives decreased to 194227 in march from 217392 in february of 2024. tourist arrivals in maldives averaged 112839.84 from 2012 until 2024, reaching an all time high of 217392.00 in february of 2024 and a record low of 0.00 in april of 2020. source: maldives monetary authority,   markets,   gdp,   labour,   prices,   money,   trade,   government,   business,   consumer,   taxes,   climate.

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The Most Important Markets for the Maldives Tourism Industry

Tourism & hospitality.

From newly elected Maldivian president Mohamed Muizzu planning for Indian military personnel to leave the island and government officials insulting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on X/Twitter due to a perceived slight to the trending hashtag #BoycottMaldives: The relationship between the two nations seems to have taken a downward turn over the last couple of months. As our chart based on data by the Maldives Ministry of Tourism shows, India has been the biggest source of tourist influx in the past year.

Between January 1 and December 31 of 2023, 209,198 Indians visited the smallest country in Asia , comprised of 26 atolls and situated 750 kilometers from the Indian coast. Russia is second in terms of tourist visits to the Muslim-majority island republic, followed by China. The latter climbing 27 spots compared to 2022 can be seen as one symptom of the deepening economic and political ties between the Maldives and the People's Republic. Other relevant origin countries for tourists visiting the atolls are the United Kingdom, Italy and Germany.

The online spat between the Indian and Maldivian netizens already seems to have a palpable impact on tourism. As vice president and global head of marketing at the India-based travel software company Rategain, Ankit Chaturvedi, told CNBC on Tuesday: "We are seeing a 40 percent drop in bookings over the last two days. Most people book on weekends, and therefore the drop seems more significant because ideally [bookings] should have gone up." Tourism is an integral part of the Maldivian economy. The sector makes up more than one quarter of the island nation's economy, followed by fishing and shipping.

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This chart shows the countries with the most tourists traveling to the Maldives.

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2024 Tourism Boom: Maldives Surpasses 400k Arrivals

The Maldives is off to a remarkable start in 2024, with tourist arrivals surpassing 400,000 within the year’s first few months. This figure marks a substantial 17.2% increase over the same period in 2023, showcasing a significant recovery and acceleration of the nation’s vital tourism sector. The Ministry of Tourism’s optimistic projections indicate the Maldives is on track to achieve its ambitious goal of welcoming 2 million tourists this year.

February emerged as an exceptional month, setting a new record with over 200,000 tourists choosing the Maldives as their destination. The current trend points to a daily average of over 7,000 visitors, demonstrating the archipelago’s enduring appeal as a coveted holiday spot. Moreover, the average length of stay of 7.8 days suggests tourists are fully immersing themselves in the Maldivian experience.

China’s position as the Maldives’ top source market is further solidified, with 55,087 Chinese tourists constituting 12.8% of total arrivals this year. Russia and Italy follow closely behind, with 42,358 and 41,162 arrivals, respectively, highlighting the diverse appeal of the Maldives.

The Maldivian government recognizes the critical role tourism plays in the nation’s economy and is determined to capitalize on this momentum. Proactive initiatives to promote the Maldives as a premier destination are underway throughout 2024. These efforts, combined with the already impressive figures, suggest that the Maldives could break its previous tourism records and establish itself as a global leader in the industry.

Key Factors Driving Tourism Growth

• Global Rebound:  As the world continues to recover from the pandemic, pent-up travel demand is being unleashed, leading to a surge in international tourism.
• Maldives’ Reputation:  The Maldives’ pristine beaches, luxurious resorts, and unique overwater villas have cemented its status as a dream destination for many travellers.
• Accessibility:  Increased flight connectivity and strategic marketing campaigns have enhanced the Maldives’ accessibility and visibility in key markets.

The robust start to 2024 bodes well for the Maldivian tourism sector and the broader economy. Sustained growth in this industry will generate employment, stimulate local businesses, and contribute to the overall development of the nation.

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News February 12, 2023

Tourist Arrivals in Maldives on the Rise in 2023

The Ministry of Tourism in Maldives has reported that the country has received over 220,574 tourists as of 8 th February 2023. This represents a 31% increase compared to the same period in 2022 and a significant improvement from the 116,991 arrivals recorded in 2021.

The data shows that January saw 172,536 tourists arrive in Maldives, while the first week of February saw an additional 48,038 tourists visit the country. The average daily tourist arrival stands at 5,656 and the average length of stay in Maldives is 8 days.

Russia has emerged as the leading source market for Maldives tourism, with a market share of 13.1% and 28,873 recorded arrivals. India has risen to the second position with a market share of 10.9% and 24,127 recorded arrivals, while Italy follows in third place with 9.4% of the market share and 20,962 recorded arrivals.

The highest number of arrivals in a single day was recorded on February 4, with more than 6,800 visitors landing at Velana International Airport. The Maldives government aims to reach a target of 1.8 million tourist arrivals by the end of 2023 and successfully achieved its goal of 1.6 million tourist arrivals in 2022 on December 20.

China, which has recently lifted some of its COVID-19 restrictions, is now the eighth largest tourism market for Maldives with 7,018 recorded arrivals. With a diverse range of offerings and a thriving tourist industry, Maldives continues to attract visitors from around the world, making it a popular destination for tropical getaways.

The Maldives is poised for a successful year in tourism, with a significant increase in arrivals compared to the same period last year. With a focus on attracting visitors from around the world and maintaining a thriving tourist industry, Maldives is well on its way to reaching its target of 1.8 million tourist arrivals by the end of 2023.

Featured Cover Image: Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa

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International tourism, number of arrivals - Maldives

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Maldives’ 2023 tourist arrivals exceed 1.8m target by 78,537

Tourist arrivals in the Maldives for 2023 crossed the government’s projected estimate of 1.8 million by 78,537.

The government had initially anticipated 1.8 million tourist arrivals for the year, a goal that was achieved on schedule. According to the Tourism Ministry’s statistics, 2023 witnessed the highest influx of tourists in the nation’s history, totalling 1,878,537 arrivals. This marked a notable increase from the 1.6 million arrivals recorded in 2022.

Among the prominent source countries, India and Russia emerged as the top contributors, each sending 209,100 tourists to the Maldives in 2023. Following closely were China, the UK, and Germany, with significant contributions of 187,118, 155,730, and 135,090 tourists, respectively. Italy trailed with a substantial 118,412 visitors.

Statistical data revealed that by the end of last year, the Maldives hosted 176 resorts, 809 guesthouses, 146 safari vessels, and 14 hotels, all catering to the thriving tourism industry.

Cover photo: Avas Online

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Maldives Minister Urges Indians to Visit As India Moves from Top Source Market to 6th

Peden Doma Bhutia , Skift

May 7th, 2024 at 9:45 AM EDT

The Maldivian tourism minister's plea to Indian visitors highlights the critical role tourism plays in the country's economic framework. It also speaks volumes about India's outbound tourism potential.

Peden Doma Bhutia

It’s been four months since the #BoycottMaldives trend started in India, and Maldives wants those tourists back.

“As the tourism minister, I want to ask Indians to please be a part of Maldives’ tourism,” said Maldivian Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal to PTI Videos. “Our economy depends on tourism. Our people and the government will extend a warm welcome to Indian travelers.”

The tensions began when three Maldivian politicians made disparaging remarks about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Indian arrivals have plummeted more than 40% since then — to roughly 44,000 so far this year.

VIDEO | Here’s what Tourism Minister of Maldives Ibrahim Faisal said on India-Maldives relations. “We have a history. Our newly elected government also wants to work together (with India). We always promote peace and a friendly environment. Our people and the government will… pic.twitter.com/xFgEkgEunv — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 6, 2024

India’s ranking from the second-largest tourism source market during this period last year to the sixth shows the impact of the diplomatic tensions.

Maldives wants to mend the relationship. “We have a history. The Indian government has been very helpful during our time of need. We welcome Indian arrivals that’s a clear message from us. Our newly elected government also wants to work together (with India) and promote peace and a friendly environment,” the Maldives tourism minister said.

Faisal also talked about how India’s large population presents a huge tourism market for Maldives.

What Started It All

The controversy arose after Modi’s visit to the Lakshadweep islands, with social media users suggesting that the visit was a push for Indian tourists to visit domestic destinations rather than international ones like Maldives.

The three Maldivian deputy ministers used words such as “clown” to refer to Modi, leading to the boycott.

Indian online travel agency EaseMyTrip announced that it would suspend all flight bookings to Maldives. Skift tried searching for flights on the EaseMyTrip platform on Wednesday and found none.

“Since mid-January, we’ve upheld our decision of suspending flights to the Maldives,” Nishant Pitti, CEO and co-founder, of EaseMyTrip, told Skift. “As a leading Indian online travel agency (OTA) and out of a sense of responsibility, we prioritized our commitment over the business opportunities and continue to stand by it.”

Maldives Wants Indian Tourists

India was the biggest source market for tourism into the Maldives in 2023, with over 11% share in its 1.8 million tourism arrivals, according to the tourism ministry.

Last year, Maldives brought in 209,198 Indian tourists.

The usually-reticent CEO of resort chain Soneva, Sonu Shivdasani, also wrote about the potential impact of the diplomatic stand off on the tourism industry , and hoped for a reconciliation.

Determined to increase Indian arrivals to the island destination, the Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators, had shared with Skift its plans to host roadshows in 3 Indian cities in July.

“Properties and resorts that rely heavily on the Indian market have been severely affected. This will hurt us in the long term and that is why we have decided to engage with the India market,” Abdulla Ghiyas, president of the association told Skift.

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Tags: asia monthly , china outbound , easemytrip , india outbound , maldives , russia outbound

Photo credit: Tourism arrivals from India to Maldives continue to dip. Asad Photo Maldive / Pexels

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Tourists arrivals from India to the Maldives decreased by 42 percent

Times of India TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Created : May 7, 2024, 17:09 IST

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Diplomatic tensions lead to a 42.2% drop in Indian tourist arrivals to the Maldives. China, Russia, and England now surpass India in visitor numbers, causing India to fall to the sixth position in the market.

Diplomatic tensions lead to a 42.2% drop in Indian tourist arrivals to the Maldives. China, Russia, and England now surpass India in visitor numbers, causing India to fall to the sixth position in the market. Read less

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Diplomatic tensions lead to a 42.2% drop in Indian tourist arrivals to the Maldives. China, Russia, and England now surpass India in visitor numbers, causing India to fall to the sixth position in the...

Maldives Requests Indians To 'Be A Part' Of Its Tourism, Says Country's Economy 'Depends' On It

W ith the number of Indian tourists visiting the Maldives dwindling amidst strained bilateral ties, the archipelago nation’s tourism minister on Monday urged Indians to contribute to the country’s economy which is dependent on tourism. In an interview with PTI Videos here, Maldivian Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal emphasised on the historical relations between his country and India.

“We have a history. Our newly elected government also wants to work together (with India). We always promote peace and a friendly environment. Our people and the government will give a warm welcome to Indian arrivals. As the Tourism Minister, I want to tell Indians to please be a part of Maldives’ tourism. Our economy depends on tourism,” he said.

A full-blown backlash was directed at the Maldives following derogatory remarks against India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media by three Maldivian officials after Modi posted photos and video of the pristine Lakshadweep Islands on India’s west coast on January 6 on his X handle. Scores of Indians, including multiple celebrities, cancelled their reservations and dropped plans to visit Maldives. The tourism arrival statistics reflected how from being a top visitor country, India’s position went down from topmost to sixth position after January.

According to a sun.mv report published on Monday, the number of tourist arrivals from India declined by 42 percent in the first four months of this year compared to the first four months of last year. At the start of this year, India was the top tourist market for the Maldives. Shortly into the year, India dropped to sixth place amongst the top tourist markets, the news portal reported. According to Tourism Ministry statistics, Maldives recorded a total of 43,991 tourist arrivals from India as of May 4. Between January and April of last year, Maldives recorded 73,785 tourist arrivals. This year, the number stands at 42,638.

The report attributed the steep decline in Indian tourists to the strained relations between India and the Maldives after the new administration led by President Mohamed Muizzu assumed office in November last year. The India-Maldives ties have come under stress as President Muizzu, widely seen as a pro-China leader, maintained after assuming charge as the president in November that he will keep his election promise of evicting Indian military personnel from his country.

Soon after coming to power, Muizzu forced the withdrawal of the 88 Indian military personnel manning three aviation platforms gifted by India to the Maldives. He has previously accused India of meddling in the affairs of the Maldives and won the presidential elections in September last year with an “India Out” campaign. The Maldives is India’s key maritime neighbour in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and occupies a special place in its initiatives like ‘SAGAR’ (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the ‘Neighbourhood First Policy’ of the Modi government.

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Maldivian minister appeals Indians to be part of Maldives tourism

"Please be a part of the Maldives' tourism. Our economy depends on tourism," Maldivian tourism minister Ibrahim Faisal recently appealed to Indian tourists amid a significant decline in tourist arrivals from India since the diplomatic row between the two countries erupted in January.

Indian tourists to the Maldives dipped by 42% in the first four months of this year in comparison to the same period in 2023.

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This episode of So Sorry depicts a scene from Ranbir Kapoor-starrer Animal.

Arvind Kejriwal says, BJP will finish Yogi Adityanath's political career

Out on bail, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal held his first election rally on Saturday. Arvind Kejriwal predicted that the BJP would finish Yogi Adityanath's political career.

Ever-present SRK has been really understanding: KKR’s Varun Chakravarthy

IPL 2024: KKR spinner Varun Chakravarthy lauded franchise co-owner Shah Rukh Khan for his constant support across all their matches in the ongoing IPL season, and hailed it as key to their recent successes. KKR currently stand at the top of the points table, and will be gearing up for their high-value clash against MI on May 11.