Indian Tourist Arrivals to Maldives Top 60,000 Despite Slight Year-on-Year Decline

The Maldives has welcomed over 60,000 tourists from India so far this year, maintaining India's position as the sixth-largest source market for the island nation. According to the latest data from the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, India recorded 60,515 arrivals as of June 23. While the numbers remain significant, they reflect a slight dip compared to the same period last year, when India sent 64,147 visitors. This trend mirrors a broader cooling in overall arrivals; the Maldives hosted a total of 1,036,558 tourists up to June 23, marking a five percent decline compared to the previous year. Despite this marginal decrease, the Maldives continues to see strong demand from its primary markets. China remains the leading source of visitors with 162,305 arrivals, followed by Russia with 144,552 and the United Kingdom with 84,787. To counter the decline and sustain growth, Visit Maldives is intensifying promotional efforts across India and other key international regions. Accommodation preferences continue to lean heavily toward luxury experiences. Tourist resorts remain the dominant choice, accounting for 71.8 percent of all visitors, with 727,709 guests staying at these facilities. Guesthouses provided a more boutique alternative for 238,417 tourists, while hotels and safari vessels accommodated 24,978 and 21,008 visitors, respectively. The tourism sector remains a powerhouse of activity, with the country welcoming an average of more than 5,000 tourists every day. This massive influx is supported by a diverse infrastructure of 1,290 tourist establishments currently operating across the atolls, ranging from high-end resorts to local community-based guesthouses.