Tourist arrivals to Maldives increase by 9.6 percent by September

The Ministry of Tourism has recorded a 9.6 percent increase in tourist arrivals to the Maldives as of September 2024, compared to the same period in 2023.

The latest statistics released by the Tourism Ministry show that 1.49 million tourists visited the Maldives by September this year, up from 1.36 million during the same time last year. The statistics show that February saw the highest monthly arrivals, with 200,000 tourists visiting. In September alone, there were 132,799 arrivals, which is a 1.4 percent increase compared to the 130,967 arrivals recorded during the same month last year.

The statistics also reveal that China is the leading source of tourists, contributing 221,143 arrivals, followed by Russia with 162,288 and the United Kingdom (UK) with 126,332. On average, 4,427 tourists arrive in the Maldives daily, and they typically stay for seven days. The government has set a target of attracting two million tourists by the end of the year. It is expected that this target will be reached in December with the end of year arrivals.