Tourist arrivals to Maldives top pre-pandemic levels

The tourist arrivals to the Maldives reached nearly 130,000 for the month of July, slightly up by 0.8 percent of the arrivals achieved in the corresponding month in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the global tourism sector.

The data from the Maldives Tourism Ministry showed that for the July 01 to 30 period, a total of 129,233 arrived in the archipelago. It was a 33.9 percent growth compared to the arrivals recorded in July 2021.

Statistics indicate tourists are staying in the Maldives for an average of eight days, with daily arrivals being maintained at an average of 4,467. The daily average for July was 4,308.

Leading tourist generating markets for the Maldives for the year 2022 are India, contributing to 14.5 percent of the total arrivals, the United Kingdom, with 11.6 percent and Russia, with 10. 7 percent.

In 2019, China emerged as the largest source market for tourism in the Maldives. 

The high 2022 arrivals do not include tourists from China, due to the strict travel policy imposed by the government of China to contain the spread of COVID-19. 

Several top Sri Lankan conglomerates such as John Keells, Aitken Spence and LOLC Holdings own and operate resort hotels in the Maldives.