Diving schools have become the fastest-growing segment within the tourism sector, achieving a robust 47 per cent expansion, statistics released by the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority reveal. During the first quarter of this year, the broader tourism industry generated USD 447 million in output tax, a 20.5 per cent increase compared to the USD 371 million collected during the corresponding period last year, the agency’s first-quarter report noted.
Diving school revenues experienced the most rapid and substantial expansion among all industry components. These institutions recorded USD 32.03 million in revenue during the first quarter, a 47.7 per cent surge against the USD 21.68 million reported during the first quarter of the previous year. The Goods and Services Tax collected from these establishments climbed by 39.5 per cent to reach USD 269.26 million, a rate of expansion that markedly outpaced the growth of the wider tourism sector, the report highlighted.
Other aquatic recreation businesses demonstrated strong financial performance. Water sports centres saw revenue expand by 49.2 per cent, climbing to USD 12.37 million from a previous mark of USD 8.2 million. Homestay guesthouses experienced a steeper percentage growth of 60.8 per cent, though their total financial contribution remains small in proportion to the broader market.
Traditional resorts, which maintain the largest financial share of the tourism market, achieved a more moderate 21.0 per cent revenue increase. These statistics reflect the reporting period from December 2025 through February 2026, driven by an 11.6 per cent increase in total tourist arrivals, the report concluded.