Tourist Arrivals Dip Amid Middle East Conflict as Gov’t Cuts Jet Fuel Prices

Tourist arrivals to the Maldives have declined in recent weeks amid the ongoing Middle East conflict, prompting the government to cut jet fuel prices in a bid to support the tourism sector.

Speaking at a Special Cabinet Committee press conference, Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Mohamed Ameen said arrivals are down 3.4% this year compared to 2025, with a sharper weekly decline of 4.8%.

Current figures show 725,000 arrivals so far this week, down from 825,000 during the same period last year. Ameen warned that the downturn is expected to deepen in the coming weeks as the conflict continues to disrupt travel from key transit hubs.

He described the Maldives’ tourism model as “frequency-sensitive,” noting that fluctuations in global travel patterns have a direct impact on arrivals.

To mitigate losses, the government reduced jet fuel prices by 24 cents per litre on April 24, aiming to ease operational costs for international airlines and maintain connectivity.

“We have a specialised team assessing the situation daily, working with stakeholders such as MATI, guesthouses and international airlines,” Ameen said.

Despite the current decline, the minister noted that the industry had previously experienced a much steeper drop of between 19% and 29% between 2024 and 2025.

Officials pointed to signs of a potential recovery, including plans by British Airways to increase flight capacity to the Maldives by 32%, a 75% rise in online destination searches, and ongoing efforts to strengthen destination marketing and transport links.

The government said these measures are aimed at stabilising the tourism sector, a key driver of the Maldivian economy, amid ongoing regional instability.