Tourism to the Maldives has recorded a sharp rise this year, with Germany becoming the fifth country to send more than 100,000 visitors. According to data released by the Ministry of Tourism and Environment, total arrivals reached 1,463,566 as of 26 October, reflecting a 9.2 percent increase compared with the same period last year.
Germany contributed 100,546 tourists to this figure, securing its position as the fifth-largest source market and accounting for 6.9 percent of all arrivals. The country joins China, Russia, the United Kingdom and Italy, each of which has also surpassed the 100,000-visitor threshold. China leads with 230,374 arrivals, followed by Russia with 174,434, the United Kingdom with 132,732, and Italy with 105,379.
Accommodation trends show that more than one million tourists chose to stay in resort properties across the island nation. Guest houses also attracted significant numbers, hosting over 300,000 visitors and underscoring the sector’s reach across varied market segments.
The government has set an annual target of 2.3 million arrivals. With over 1.4 million already recorded, government officials have expressed confidence in achieving, and potentially exceeding, the stated goal.
Supporting this outlook is the recent opening of the new passenger terminal at Velana International Airport. Inaugurated in July, the facility is expected to markedly expand capacity, with government estimates indicating it can accommodate up to 7.5 million tourists annually.