Tourist arrivals near 1 million; China remains top source market

Tourist arrivals to the Maldives have neared 1 million, as the year enters its sixth month.

The latest information released by the Tourism Ministry shows Maldives registered 907,066 tourist arrivals as of June 5.

It marks an increase from the 825,239 tourists who visited the country during the same period last year.

China continues to top the biggest source markets for tourist arrivals, with 102,706 visitors – making for 11 percent of the market share.

Top source markets:

• China: 102,706 arrivals (11.3 percent)
• Russia: 91,911 arrivals (10.1 percent)
• UK: 86,083 arrivals (9.5 percent)
• Italy: 75,731 arrivals (8.3 percent)
• Germany: 73,357 arrivals (8.1 percent)
• India: 54,786 arrivals (6 percent)
• France: 32,455 arrivals (3.6 percent)
• US: 32,049 arrivals (3.5 percent)
• Switzerland: 21,528 (2.4 percent)
• Poland: 17,502 (1.9 percent)

Despite the overall rise in arrivals, Maldives saw a decline in tourist numbers in May, compared to the same period in the last two years.

The country saw average daily arrivals of 3,865 last month, with an average duration stay of 7.3 days.

Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) expects a decline in arrivals from Europe this month, with the UEFA European Football Championship, or Euros, set to begin on June 14.

Maldives, which won the 2023 WTA for World's Leading Destination for the fourth consecutive year, expects a record 2 million tourist arrivals this year.