The Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Mohamed Ameen has announced that the Maldives has reduced its tourist arrival deficit to approximately 3 per cent, recovering from a sharp downturn triggered by conflict in the Middle East earlier this year.
The announcement was made at the World Travel Market in London.
Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East severely disrupted the island nation’s momentum towards its annual targets of 2.5 million visitors and 17 per cent sector growth. Between March and May, the conflict caused tourist arrivals to fall by 24 to 25 per cent.
To counter the downturn, the government established a special committee and collaborated with tourism industry stakeholders to introduce targeted concessions and develop new promotional strategies. According to Minister Ameen, these joint measures successfully reversed the slump and brought arrival rates back towards pre-crisis levels.
Data from the sector reflects the rebound. In October, the Maldives welcomed 194,039 visitors, surpassing the previous year’s figures for the same month. During the ongoing high season, the destination is recording a daily average of 5,900 tourist arrivals.
New airline routes, increased flight frequencies, and sustained demand from key source markets—including China, Russia, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy—continue to support the sector’s recovery.
