Over 250,000 Chinese tourists have visited the Maldives so far this year, statistics released by the Ministry of Tourism have revealed. According to the latest data, the Maldives has welcomed 259,723 visitors from China, reflecting a substantial 38.8% increase compared to 2023, when 187,118 Chinese tourists visited the islands.
China has reclaimed its position as the top source market for the Maldives' tourism sector. In 2023, China was ranked as the third biggest tourism source market, and in 2022, it was ranked 27th due to travel restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
In addition to the surge in Chinese tourists, the number of visitors from Russia, Germany, and Italy has also increased this year. The Maldives has welcomed 214,720 visitors from Russia, reflecting a 2.6% increase compared to the same period in 2023. German tourists have also shown an 11% increase, with 149,998 visitors so far this year. Italian visitors numbered 131,295, representing a 10.8% increase compared to the same period last year.
Overall, the Maldives has welcomed over 1.9 million visitors this year, an 8.8% increase compared to the 1.7 million tourists during the same period in 2023. The government aims to welcome over 2 million tourists this year, with only 52,721 more visitors needed to reach this goal. An average of 6,091 tourists are being welcomed in the Maldives every day, according to Tourism Ministry data.