The government expects the number of flights operating to the Maldives during the summer season to increase as efforts continue to strengthen tourism and improve international air connectivity.
Chief Spokesperson at the President’s Office, Mohamed Hussain Shareef, said the tourism sector has shown stronger performance than initially anticipated despite disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The conflict affected several global air routes, leading to the suspension of multiple flights operating to the Maldives. However, authorities say many airlines have now started gradually resuming operations while increasing flight frequencies.
Speaking during the latest edition of the “Presser with the Spox” series, Shareef said the government is actively working to restore tourism figures to levels seen before the conflict began.
He noted that visitor arrivals from alternative markets have remained stable, helping support the tourism industry during the disruptions. According to him, arrivals from India continue to remain strong, while tourist arrivals from China have also risen significantly ahead of the summer season.
Government figures show that flight disruptions, which were initially estimated at around 99 percent at the beginning of the conflict, have now reduced to nearly 70 percent.
The spokesperson also highlighted that expanding the national airline’s network to new destinations is expected to further support tourism recovery efforts.
In addition, the Maldives has been offering jet fuel to airlines at reduced prices in a bid to encourage more carriers to operate flights to the country and increase overall flight frequency.
