The Ministry of Tourism has announced that the Maldives has welcomed a record-breaking 1,015,529 tourists in the first six months of 2024. This represents a significant 9.2% increase compared to the 929,607 arrivals during the same period last year.
According to the latest daily report from tourism ministry, the number of tourist arrivals each month was as follows: 192,385 in January, 217,392 in February, 194,227 in March, 168,366 in April, 119,875 in May, and 123,284 in June. February saw the highest number of tourist arrivals.
The report also highlights that Chinese tourists made up the largest portion of arrivals so far this year, with 120,726 visitors. Following China, the top sources of tourists included Russia with 105,068 visitors, the United Kingdom with 93,291 arrivals, Italy with 79,909 visitors, and Germany with 78,135 arrivals.
The Maldives has also expanded its tourism infrastructure to accommodate the growing number of visitors. Currently, there are 1,203 tourist establishments with a total bed capacity of 62,360.
On average, tourists are staying in the Maldives for approximately seven days, with an average of 4,109 visitors arriving daily. This consistent influx has motivated the government to set an ambitious target of attracting 2 million tourists by the end of the year. The government reports that it has already achieved 50% of this target within the first four months of 2024 and is actively working towards reaching this goal.
These positive statistics reflect the Maldives' strong position as a premier global tourist destination and underscore ongoing efforts to maintain and enhance the country’s appeal to international travelers.