The Maldives has commenced 2025 with a significant surge in tourism, recording over 200,000 tourist arrivals in January. This marks an 11.1% increase compared to the same period last year, underscoring the nation's robust recovery in the tourism sector.
As of January 29, 2025, a total of 200,241 visitors had arrived, with China leading the market by contributing 31,388 tourists, accounting for 15.7% of the total arrivals. Russia and Italy followed, with 20,902 (10.4%) and 19,042 (9.5%) visitors respectively. The surge from China is notably attributed to the Chinese New Year celebrations, a peak travel period for Chinese nationals.
Top 10 Tourist Markets as of 29th January 2025:
- China: 200,241 arrivals (15.7%)
- Russia: 20,902 arrivals (10.4%)
- Italy: 19,042 arrivals (9.5%)
- UK: 17,714 arrivals (8.8%)
- Germany: 11,697 arrivals (5.8%)
- India: 9,550 arrivals (4.8%)
- France: 6,845 arrivals (3.4%)
- USA: 6,168 arrivals (3.1%)
- Poland: 4,272 arrivals (2.1%)
- South Korea: 3,536 arrivals (1.8%)
The Ministry of Tourism reported that January 25 witnessed the highest single-day arrivals, with 9,199 tourists entering the country. This influx has significantly bolstered the nation's economy, aligning with the Maldives' target of achieving US$5 billion in tourism revenue in 2025.
The consistent growth in tourist arrivals highlights the Maldives' enduring appeal as a premier travel destination and reflects the effectiveness of strategic initiatives aimed at revitalizing the tourism industry post-pandemic.