Private jet arrivals to the Maldives have increased significantly, according to Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Mohamed Ameen.
Speaking at a press conference held at the President’s Office, the minister said that when looking at the high-end tourism market, the number of private jets arriving in the Maldives has risen sharply.
He revealed that in March 2025, a total of 84 private jets arrived in the country, while in March 2026 that figure increased to 189; a rise of 125 percent. Additionally, comparing April figures, 64 jets arrived in 2025, whereas 93 jets have arrived so far this year, marking a 45.3 percent increase. The minister noted that although the global situation continues to change rapidly, the Maldives tourism sector has achieved notable progress. He explained that last year the country received an average of 7,085 tourists per day, while this year the figure currently stands at 6,855; a decrease of 3.2 percent.
However, looking at statistics from the past week, tourist arrivals have increased by 2.2 per cent, with a total of 35,653 visitors recorded. The minister described this as a strong recovery following challenges faced by airlines due to global conditions. He added that although 18 to 19 flights had previously been cancelled due to the situation, government efforts have led to the resumption of services by Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad Airways. Flights by Flydubai and Air Arabia have also resumed. In addition, Aeroflot and Turkish Airlines have increased their flight frequencies, while airlines such as Belavia and Flynas have also expanded their operations.
Another major shift in the tourism market is the inclusion of Australia among the Maldives’ top 10 source markets. The minister stated that the launch of flights to Australia by Maldivian has played a significant role in this progress. He added that this is also the result of efforts made to sustain and grow the tourism sector despite ongoing global challenges.