Guesthouses Attract Over 274,000 Tourists as Local Tourism Sector Grows

Guesthouses now account for 22.6 percent of all tourist arrivals to the Maldives, reflecting a growing preference for local community-based tourism. According to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, more than 274,000 visitors opted for guesthouse accommodations out of a total of 1,241,422 arrivals so far this year. Chinese travelers have emerged as the primary drivers of this segment. As the Maldives' largest overall source market, China contributed 213,317 visitors, with 28.6 percent of them choosing guesthouses over traditional resorts. Italian tourists followed closely as the second-largest group utilizing guesthouses, with 28.2 percent of the 96,876 Italian visitors selecting this accommodation type. The infrastructure supporting this trend has expanded significantly. There are currently 944 operational guesthouses across the archipelago, providing a combined capacity of 17,010 beds. This capacity now represents a substantial 25 percent of the total available tourist beds in the country, signaling a shift toward a more diversified tourism product. Geographically, the distribution of these facilities is concentrated in key regions. Kaafu Atoll leads the nation in capacity with 8,162 guesthouse beds, while Alifu Alifu Atoll ranks second with 2,312 beds in operation. This rise in guesthouse popularity highlights a broader trend of tourists seeking more authentic experiences and direct interaction with local island communities. By spreading tourist footprints beyond isolated resorts, the guesthouse sector continues to play a critical role in distributing economic benefits more equitably across the various atolls of the Maldives.