The Maldives expects stronger tourist arrivals in the third and fourth quarters of this year compared to earlier months, Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Mohamed Ameen has said.
He made the remarks while speaking to reporters following an event held at Velana International Airport (VIA) to welcome this year’s one-millionth tourist arrival to the Maldives.
Average arrivals are now over 5,000 tourists per day.
The minister said the government’s original target for the year is 2.5 million tourists. However, tourism slowed earlier due to the unrest in the Middle East and subsequent changes in airline connectivity. Despite this, arrivals have improved following government interventions, he said.
The minister further noted that the Maldives welcomed the most number of tourists in its history last year, adding that reaching the 1 million milestone in June this year- similar to last year, though slightly later- is a positive sign. While the third and fourth quarter are expected to show better performance than current levels, he said he expects to reach a figure closer to the target by the fourth quarter, or close to last year’s figure of 2.24 million.
Highlighting promotional efforts, the minister noted events planned in China and Russia next month. He said that a new airline had started flights to the Maldives that day under airline connectivity expansion efforts. While a new French airline is expected to begin operations soon, the government is working on air service agreements to attract more carriers, he said.
The one millionth tourist to visit the Maldives this year, a Spanish citizen named Artonio Espara, arrived in the Maldives on a Qatar Airways flight.