The Maldives is experiencing a robust surge in tourist arrivals, with the Ministry of Tourism and Environment reporting a significant uplift in daily visitor numbers as the island nation enters its traditional peak season.
As of 5 November, the Maldives had already welcomed over 1.8 million tourists this year, marking a substantial 9.8 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
The positive trend is particularly evident in early November, which saw a notable 12.3 percent increase in arrivals compared to the first five days of November last year.
During this five-day window, a total of 32,895 tourists arrived, averaging 6,579 daily visitors. This figure represents a considerable boost in average daily arrivals compared to the preceding eight months of the year, signaling a strong start to the peak tourism season.
Monthly average daily tourist arrivals for 2025 have shown fluctuations, with November's initial figures indicating a strong recovery and upward trajectory:
January: 6,931
February: 7,646
March: 6,563
April: 6,611
May: 4,375
June: 4,726
July: 6,024
August: 6,195
September: 4,985
October: 6,143
First 5 days of November: 6,579
China has continued to maintain its position as the leading source market for Maldivian tourism this year, contributing nearly 300,000 tourists. Russia follows as the second-largest market, with over 233,000 visitors, underscoring the diversification of the Maldives' tourist base.
With the current momentum, the government's ambitious target of attracting 2.3 million tourists by the end of the year appears increasingly attainable. This peak season is further bolstered by recent infrastructure developments, including the opening of a new terminal at the country’s main gateway, Velana International Airport (VIA) and the relocation of operations for more than 20 airlines, enhancing connectivity and capacity for the globally renowned tourist destination.