Maldives Tourist Arrivals Rise 3 Percent in May Despite Annual Decline

The Maldives recorded 139,746 international arrivals in May, marking a 3 percent increase compared to the 135,614 visitors who arrived during the same month last year. According to statistics released by the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, the country averaged 6,100 arrivals per day throughout the month. Despite the May uptick, the overall tourism trend for the year remains challenging. Cumulative arrivals for the first five months of the year dropped by 4.7 percent, falling to 921,115 visitors from 966,358 during the corresponding period last year. This decline was most pronounced in March and April, when arrivals plummeted by 20.7 percent and 25.5 percent, respectively. Ministry officials attribute the downturn primarily to the suspension of flights from West Asia, a direct consequence of ongoing regional conflict. While some airlines have gradually resumed their operations, the disruptions caused a significant gap in the visitor pipeline during the early spring months. To mitigate these losses, the government is actively working to diversify its source markets. Efforts are underway to establish new flight routes and attract visitors from alternative destinations to recover the lost momentum in the sector. In terms of market share, China remains the leading source of tourists with 143,917 arrivals this year. Russia follows as the second-largest market with 125,096 visitors; these are the only two demographics to surpass the 100,000-visitor threshold so far this year. The United Kingdom ranks third, contributing 80,323 arrivals. The Ministry of Tourism stated that it will continue to monitor the situation before reviewing and adjusting its established targets for the remainder of the year.