The Maldives has welcomed 1,214,544 tourists so far in 2022.
The latest weekly statistics released by the Ministry of Tourism reveal that a total of 1,214,544 tourists were welcomed between January 1 and October 5.
This is a 38.3% increase from arrivals recorded in 2021. However, it is still a decrease of 4.4% from arrivals recorded in 2019.
This means the Maldives is closing in on its promising tourist arrivals target for the year. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, in his presidential address on February 3, revealed that the Maldives aims to welcome 1.6 million tourists this year.
The total number of arrivals so far this year includes 131,764 tourists welcomed in January, 149,008 tourist arrivals in February, 150,739 tourists welcomed in March and 145,280 tourists welcomed in April.
In addition, 125,522 tourists were welcomed in May followed by 110,889 tourists in June and 133,561 tourists welcomed in July.
In August, the Maldives welcomed 131,863 tourists followed by 111,987 tourists in September
So far in October, the Maldives has welcomed 23,923 tourists. This figure represents an increase of 28.3% compared to arrivals recorded in 2019 and an increase of 45.1% compared to the figure recorded in the same period last year.
The daily arrivals of this current month are much higher than those of September.
The Maldives welcomed its millionth tourist of the year on August 13. The government passed the milestone of one million arrivals for the promising year, with the arrival of a national from the Czech Republic.
The figures reveal that India remains the main source market for tourism in the archipelago nation.
Even though Russia had maintained its position as the top source market for tourism to the Maldives in the past, India has once again become the top tourism market for the Maldives, contributing 14.2% of total arrivals as of October 5, with 172 911 arrivals.
Next comes Russia, which contributes 12.1% with 146,806 arrivals.
The United Kingdom comes third with 11% with 133,280 arrivals.
Although Ukraine was also among the top 10 tourism markets in the Maldives, it has since been superseded. Arrivals from Ukraine have dropped due to the ongoing war.
2020 has been a sluggish year for tourism in the Maldives due to the many security measures put in place in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, alongside border closures. Tourist arrivals have started to rebound with the easing of travel restrictions as well as Covid-19 security measures in 2021.
In 2020, the Maldives recorded 555,494 tourist arrivals, which is a drastic drop from the 1,702,887 arrivals the previous year. The Maldives reached its 2021 tourist arrival target at the end of December and welcomed a total of 1,321,932 tourists by the end of the year.
It has been 50 years since zealous travelers visit the Maldives which has been attracting visitors with its scenic beauty for years.
Tourism was introduced to the Maldives in 1972.
