The Maldives has recorded almost 1.93 million tourist arrivals so far this year, a sharp rise that underscores the island nation’s continued appeal among global travellers despite economic uncertainty in many of its key markets.
Figures released by the Ministry of Tourism and Environment show that as of 15 November, arrivals had climbed to 1,923,496—a 9.9% increase compared with the same period in 2023. Last year, the Maldives welcomed 1,750,249 visitors over the same timeframe.
Officials say the country is now averaging 6,437 arrivals a day, reflecting what they describe as a resilient and steadily expanding tourism sector that remains central to the Maldivian economy.
China returns to the top of the visitor rankings
After years of pandemic-related disruptions, China has re-emerged as the Maldives’ largest source of tourists, contributing 303,035 visitors so far this year.
Russia follows with 242,542, while travellers from the United Kingdom (171,213), Germany (144,278) and Italy (125,582) round out the top five—illustrating the country’s broad international reach across both European and Asian markets.
Tourism officials say the mix of markets offers some protection against global volatility, although Europe remains a stronghold for longer-stay, higher-spending travellers.
Resort luxury continues to dominate
The Maldives’ reputation for high-end travel remains firmly intact.
According to official data:
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73.7% of visitors have chosen to stay in luxury resorts,
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21.5% opted for guest houses—popular among budget-conscious travellers and backpackers,
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while 2.6% stayed in hotels.
Safari vessels, a niche but longstanding feature of Maldivian tourism, account for a smaller share of stays but continue to attract divers, surfers and charter groups.
Tourism infrastructure expands to meet demand
With visitor numbers climbing, the Maldives has continued to increase its accommodation capacity. The country now has 1,295 operational tourist establishments, offering a total of 66,235 beds nationwide.
These include:
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44,247 resort beds,
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16,068 guest-house beds,
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3,322 safari beds,
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and 2,598 hotel beds.
Officials say the expansion reflects both investor confidence and long-term expectations of sustained demand. Guest-house development, in particular, has boosted tourism in local islands, supporting community-owned businesses and diversifying economic opportunities beyond the capital region.
As the high-season months begin, tourism authorities believe the Maldives is on track for one of its strongest years on record—offering a further boost to a sector that contributes heavily to national revenue, employment and foreign currency earnings.
