Tourist arrivals below projection for 2026, says Finance Minister Zareer

Finance Minister Hassan Zareer has stated that tourist arrivals to the Maldives this year will not reach the projected figure. He made the remarks while presenting the estimated budget for next year to the People's Majlis. Minister Zareer noted that while arrivals were higher than projected in January and February, a major conflict that began at the end of the first quarter caused fluctuations in global business and tourism, leading to higher oil prices, increased airfares, and fewer airline flights. This directly impacted the Maldives' tourism sector. He said arrivals from European countries via Middle Eastern transit hubs were adversely affected, with tourist numbers in March and April down 23 percent compared to the same period in 2025. As of October 27, overall tourist numbers have decreased by 3.7 percent compared to the same period last year. Despite the lower arrivals, Minister Zareer stated that economic resilience remains strong and that state revenue is expected to match projected levels. He highlighted the increase in government expenditure due to rising oil prices as the biggest current challenge.