The Maldives has welcomed 1.71 million tourists so far this year, with China remaining the country’s largest source market, according to the latest statistics released by the Ministry of Tourism.
As of October 18, the Maldives had recorded 1,710,361 tourist arrivals. China topped the list with 321,724 visitors, followed by Russia with 243,138 and the United Kingdom with 127,769.
However, arrivals remain below last year’s figures. During the same period in 2025, the Maldives recorded 1,766,119 tourist arrivals, while the total for 2024 stood at 1,601,977.
Tourist arrivals this year are down 3.2 percent compared with the corresponding period last year. Despite the decline in cumulative arrivals, October has seen a slight increase, with 107,340 tourists visiting the Maldives between October 1 and 18, compared with 107,088 during the same period in 2025.
Velana International Airport remains the main gateway for international visitors, accounting for 1,675,260 arrivals so far this year. Gan International Airport recorded 5,992 arrivals, while 15,583 tourists entered the country through seaports.
Resorts remain the most popular accommodation choice, hosting 1,240,764 tourists. Guesthouses accommodated 365,626 visitors, while hotels recorded 37,967 tourists.
The figures highlight the continued importance of the Chinese, Russian and British markets to the Maldivian tourism industry, even as overall arrivals remain below last year’s level.
