UK Tourists Lead Resort Stays as Maldives Records 1.2 Million Arrivals

The Maldives has welcomed over 1.2 million tourist arrivals so far this year, with visitors from the United Kingdom showing the strongest preference for luxury resort accommodations, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation. Statistics reveal that resorts remain the primary choice for travelers, hosting 73.1 percent of all visitors. Out of the total arrivals, 922,974 tourists opted for resort stays. British travelers lead this trend; of the 99,886 UK visitors recorded up to August 4, a significant 87.3 percent stayed at resorts. Switzerland and Russia followed, with 86.3 percent and 81.5 percent of their respective visitors choosing resort stays. The nation's tourism infrastructure currently comprises 184 operational resorts with a combined capacity of 45,865 beds, accounting for 66 percent of the total available bedding across the country. Recent figures indicate that total arrivals from the United Kingdom have now surpassed the 100,000 mark, with 101,391 visitors accounting for 7.6 percent of total arrivals. Despite this milestone, the number is lower than the 125,500 British tourists who visited during the same period last year. The UK currently remains the third-largest source market, trailing behind China with 232,148 arrivals and Russia with 188,543. While overall arrivals have hit the 1.2 million mark, the total remains below the figures recorded during the corresponding period last year. Industry analysts point to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East as a primary driver for global travel disruptions, which have impacted the Maldivian tourism sector. Despite these challenges, Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Mohamed Ameen expressed confidence in the sector's resilience, stating that he believes the total number of tourists for the year will not fall below last year's final count.