Maldives Records Over 1.5 Million Tourist Arrivals in 2024

The Maldives has welcomed more than 1.5 million tourists so far in 2024, marking a 9.5 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.

According to the latest data from the Ministry of Tourism, tourist arrivals from 1 January to 6 October 2024 reached 1,522,621, up from 1,385,883 during the corresponding period in 2023. In September alone, arrivals totalled 132,788, representing a 1.4 per cent increase from 130,967 in September 2023.

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From 1 to 6 October this year, the Maldives recorded 30,601 arrivals, averaging around 5,100 tourists per day.

February 2024 saw the highest monthly arrival figures, with a total of 217,392 tourists, while May recorded the lowest, with 119,875 arrivals. Overall, monthly tourist arrivals have generally increased compared to the same months last year, with the exception of May, which experienced a slight decline of 0.9 per cent.

China continues to lead as the top source market, contributing 227,978 arrivals and a market share of 15 per cent. Russia follows in second place with 166,172 arrivals, accounting for 10.9 per cent of the market share. The United Kingdom ranks third, with 128,262 arrivals, representing an 8.4 per cent market share.

India, which had consistently held the top position as the source market from 2020 to 2023, has slipped to fifth place with 92,270 arrivals, giving it a market share of 6.1 per cent, although it has recently shown signs of recovery.

The Maldives government is targeting an annual total of 2 million tourist arrivals by the end of 2024, reflecting a positive trend in tourism growth in the region.