The Maldives has seen higher tourist flows for 2024. It welcomed over 1.3 million tourists so far this year.
This is according to the latest data released by the Maldives Tourism Ministry.
As of Monday 19 August over 1.3 million (1 304 235) tourists have visited the island nation.
MALDIVES TOURIST FLOWS
This number surpasses the 1.2 million arrivals recorded during the same period last year.
Maldives’ Tourism Ministry reports that tourists spend an average of 7.7 days in the island archipelago.
According to TTW, the island state offers 62 740 beds for tourism accommodations.
MALDIVES TOURIST ECONOMY
Though essential for the small island state, tourism comes with a high environmental cost.
The Maldives which is an archipelago of small islands and atolls can only handle a limited number of visitors.
This is because of limited space and resources.
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SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES
Many of the islands are small and can be traversed on foot in just a couple of minutes or hours.
Problems including sewage, availability of fresh water, and uncontrolled landfill sites are common on some of the islands and atolls. Â
Moreover, the existence of the Maldives is severely threatened by rising sea levels.
By 2050, 80% of the country could become uninhabitable due to global warming.
KEY TOURISM SOURCE COUNTRIES
China has emerged as the leading source of tourists to the Maldives in 2024.
It is followed by Russia and the United Kingdom.
The Maldives has set an ambitious goal of reaching 2 million tourist arrivals by the end of the year.
DECLINE IN INDIAN VISITOR FLOWS
Notably, India, which held the top spot as the largest source market for the past three years, has now slipped into sixth position.
A total of 77 326 Indian tourists have visited the Maldives this year.
This is a significant drop from the 209 198 Indian visitors recorded last year.
This decline is likely due to the diplomatic row between India and the Maldives, resulting from comments made by three Maldivian ministers about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
INCREASED AIR SERVICES
The Maldives has seen a number of new air services in recent times.
From ultra-luxury airlines to low-cost carriers, the Maldives is welcoming a diverse range of tourists.
Premium airline BeOnd offers luxury services to the island.
Asia’s low-cost carrier, Air Asia offers flights from various destinations across Asia to Velana International Airport.
The popularity of the destination, coupled with its visa-free access for most nationalities means that tourist flows are increasing.
