Maldives Records Over 129,000 Tourist Arrivals by Mid-January 

The Maldives has recorded over 129,000 tourist arrivals by mid-January 2026, marking a 10 percent increase compared to the same period in 2025, according to statistics from the Ministry of Tourism and Environment.

This growth rate mirrors the increase in tourist arrivals over the past two years. Russia is the leading source market this year, with around 20,000 visitors, followed by Italy with over 15,000 tourists and the United Kingdom with about 11,000 arrivals. China, which contributed the highest number of visitors last year, ranks fourth in 2026 with 8,000 tourists.

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The vast majority of tourists, 99 percent, arrived via Velana International Airport. The remaining visitors entered the country through Gan International Airport, Maafaru International Airport, and Hanimaadhoo International Airport.

On average, 7,100 tourists have arrived in the Maldives each day so far in 2026. Around 69 percent of these visitors stayed in resorts during their holidays.

In 2025, the Maldives recorded a total of 2.25 million tourist arrivals, slightly below the initial estimate of 2.3 million.