Maldives Surpasses 1.5 Million Tourist Arrivals in 2025

News

The Maldives has welcomed over 1.5 million tourists so far this year, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Environment.

Official figures released on 7 September show that 1,520,699 tourists have visited the country since January, marking a 9.7 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024, when arrivals stood at 1,386,554. On average, more than 6,000 tourists are now arriving daily.

The Ministry confirmed via social media that the Government is on track to achieve its target of 2.3 million tourist arrivals in 2025. This follows the historic milestone in 2024, when tourist numbers exceeded 2 million for the first time.

Monthly statistics reflect steady growth, with August alone recording 192,058 visitors—a 9 per cent rise year-on-year. In the first week of September, 33,773 arrivals were registered.

China continues to dominate as the top source market, contributing 240,828 visitors so far this year. Russia follows with 182,315, while the United Kingdom, Italy, and Germany rank next with 136,619, 107,736, and 104,764 arrivals, respectively.

Accommodation preferences remain consistent, with the majority of tourists choosing resorts. Guesthouses account for 21.9 per cent of stays, while the remainder is split between hotels and safari vessels.

The Ministry highlighted that the rise in arrivals reflects the Maldives’ strong global reputation, noting that the country has been voted the World’s Leading Destination for five consecutive years. With four months left in 2025, officials stressed that sustained momentum is needed to attract a further 800,000 tourists to reach the annual target.