The Maldives tourism sector is ending the year with exceptional performance, crossing the 1.94 million visitor mark and standing on the brink of achieving the major two-million-tourist milestone, according to the latest data released by the Ministry of Tourism and Environment.
The current year-to-date total of 1.94 million tourists represents a strong 9.9 percent increase compared to the 1.77 million arrivals recorded during the same period last year, signaling steady growth. The Ministry reported that only 50,587 additional arrivals are needed to push the annual count past the highly anticipated two million figure.
The increase is driven by consistent daily performance, with the archipelago currently averaging 6,446 tourist arrivals per day. This momentum was particularly evident in the first 19 days of the current month, which recorded 122,479 visitors—an 11.6 percent surge over the comparable period the previous year.
Market analysis shows that the Asian market has cemented its lead, with China emerging as the dominant source country, contributing 305,500 visitors. Russia follows closely in second place with 245,989 tourists. Completing the top five list are key European contributors - the United Kingdom (173,970), Germany (146,935), and Italy (127,248).
In terms of accommodation preference, data confirms the enduring appeal of the nation’s signature luxury offerings, with 73.7 percent of all visitors opting to spend their holidays in resorts. The thriving local tourism sector, centered on inhabited islands, also continues to capture a significant share, accounting for 21.6 percent of stays in guesthouses, while traditional tourist hotels accommodated 2.1 percent of the total influx.