News Desk
MALE’, Maldives – The Maldives is seeing a noticeable shift in where the visitors are coming from. China has surpassed traditional top markets like India to become the single largest source of tourists to the Maldives so far in 2024. While the Maldives is witnessing a surge from the Chinese market to become the single largest source of tourists in 2024, this luxury destination is also seeing incremental growth across traditional European powerhouses and other key feeder nations reshaping the composition of its visitors.
Tourist arrival data from the Ministry of Tourism shows that 107,940 Chinese travelers visited the Maldives through mid-June 2024, making up over 11.5% of all arrivals. This is a big jump from 2023 when China was the third largest market with 187,118 arrivals at 10% of the total.
The rising Chinese numbers have knocked India out of its position as the top source market in 2023. Indian arrivals have dropped significantly to just 57,478 through mid-June 2024, accounting for only 6.1% of visitors compared to 11.1% in 2023 when 209,198 Indians vacationed in the Maldives.
While Chinese arrivals have soared, Russia has also maintained a strong tourist flow to the Maldives. With 96,179 Russians visiting so far in 2024, making up 10.3% of arrivals, Russia is now the second biggest source market. This continues their momentum from 2023 when 209,146 Russian arrivals narrowly topped India’s numbers.
The rise of China and Russia has reshuffled the traditional European driving markets like the UK, Germany and Italy somewhat down the ranks, although they still supply solid visitor numbers. Britain’s share rose from 8.3% in 2023 to 9.4% in 2024, Germany increased from 7.2% in 2023 to 8% in 2024, and Italy went up from 6.3% in 2023 to 8.2% in 2024. American numbers have remained steady around 4% year-over-year.
Compared to other countries, the Chinese market is doing exceptionally well for the Maldives, and that’s a fact that should be acknowledged,” says Abdulla Giyas Riyaz, President of the Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO). He further notes the increments happening in the European market, saying “the outlook looks optimistic when winter direct flights will start.”
Overall tourist arrivals are showing healthy growth as the pandemic’s impacts subside. From January to mid-June 2024, total arrivals hit 936,258 – an encouraging 9.6% increase over the same period in 2023.
Whether it’s China’s growing middle class, Russians seeking sunshine, or European vacationers renewing their wanderlust, the Maldives is experiencing a notable shift in where its visitors are coming from. It’s a shift that resorts, guesthouses, and liveaboard operators in the Maldives are banking on to maintain strong demand for the islands.
