Minister of Tourism Ibrahim Faisal has announced ambitious projections for the Maldivian tourism sector, expecting at least 2.5 million tourist arrivals in 2025. This statement was made during a ceremony at Velana International Airport (VIA), where the minister welcomed the one millionth tourist of the current year.
The government aims to attract 2 million tourists in 2024. With the Maldives already hosting 1 million tourists this year, efforts are intensifying to boost tourist numbers further.
Minister Faisal highlighted that the marketing plan for next year is currently in preparation, and the final figures will be determined upon its completion. However, he is confident in setting a target of at least 2.5 million tourist arrivals for 2025. He expressed the target is to bring at least 2.5 million tourists by 2025 acknowledging arrivals from China are increasing significantly. He further noted efforts are underway to explore Indian market and the developing Bangladesh market.
To support this goal, Minister Faisal plans to collaborate closely with the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) to increase tourist inflows from India. He noted that the number of Indian tourists is expected to rise by the end of this year.
Furthermore, Minister Faisal announced that the new terminal at Velana International Airport is scheduled to open in November this year, with all works expected to be completed within the first quarter of the next year. This development is anticipated to enhance the capacity and efficiency of the airport, supporting the projected increase in tourist arrivals.
The Maldives continues to position itself as a premier tourist destination, leveraging its strategic marketing initiatives and infrastructure development to achieve these ambitious targets.