Guesthouses Host 22 Percent of 1.6 Million Tourists Visiting the Maldives

Guesthouses have become an increasingly vital pillar of the Maldivian tourism industry, hosting 22 percent of the 1.6 million visitors who have arrived in the country so far this year. According to the latest data from the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, a total of 1,628,419 tourists visited the Maldives during this period. While this figure represents a slight 3.3 percent decline compared to the 1,684,735 arrivals recorded during the same timeframe last year, the distribution of accommodation choices reveals a strong appetite for local island experiences. Resorts remain the primary choice for travelers, accommodating 1,158,404 guests. However, guesthouses followed as a significant alternative with 345,220 guests, far outpacing the 36,106 visitors who stayed in hotels and the 29,679 who opted for safari vessels. China continues to lead as the Maldives' largest source market, contributing 300,977 visitors. Chinese tourists are particularly drawn to guesthouses, with 27.4 percent of them choosing these local establishments. Italian travelers follow as the second-highest demographic for guesthouse stays, with 13.5 percent of the 98,039 Italian visitors opting for this mode of accommodation. The infrastructure for local tourism has expanded significantly, with 927 operational guesthouses currently active across the archipelago. These establishments provide a total of 16,810 beds, accounting for 25 percent of the nation's total tourist bed capacity. Geographically, Kaafu Atoll remains the hub for guesthouse tourism, boasting the highest capacity with 7,962 beds. Alif Alif Atoll follows as another key region, providing an additional 2,228 operational beds to meet the growing demand for authentic, community-based tourism.