Tourism Minister Confident Arrival Numbers Will Match Record-Breaking Previous Year

Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Mohamed Ameen believes the Maldives will maintain its tourist arrival numbers this year, matching or exceeding last year's record-breaking totals despite significant global disruptions. In an exclusive interview with PSM News, Minister Ameen detailed the government's strategies to mitigate the impact of international instability on the tourism sector. He specifically highlighted how conflicts in the Middle East have forced changes to international flight routes and increased fuel costs, creating hurdles for travelers, particularly those from European markets. "Last year was the strongest year ever for the Maldives' tourism industry," Ameen stated. "If we finish this year without falling below last year's arrival figures, or even match those numbers, that would be a significant achievement." He attributed such a result to the collaborative efforts between the government, industry stakeholders, and private partners. The minister noted that while Middle Eastern markets are vital sources of visitors, regional instability has hampered growth. To counter this, the government has implemented new marketing strategies and expanded its outreach to alternative global markets to sustain the flow of visitors. Current data from the Ministry of Tourism shows that 1,198,343 tourists have visited the Maldives so far this year. While this figure is 4.6 per cent lower than the 1,256,306 arrivals recorded during the same period last year, the trend is improving. The year-on-year decline for the current month has narrowed to just 1.4 per cent. Based on strong bookings for the third and fourth quarters and consultations with industry experts, the Ministry remains optimistic. The narrowing gap in arrival statistics suggests that the sector is recovering from early-year dips and is on track to meet its annual targets.