News Desk
As China ushers in the Year of the Horse, its travellers are galloping back to the Maldives, pushing the country to the top of the nation’s tourist arrivals for 2026. China has overtaken Russia and long‑dominant European markets, marking one of the most striking shifts in the Maldives’ tourism rankings as the islands enter one of their busiest periods of the year.
Figures from the Ministry of Tourism show that 41,092 Chinese visitors have arrived so far in 2026 — a remarkable jump from early January and a clear sign of how quickly the market has recovered since China resumed large‑scale outbound travel.
The surge coincides with the Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival, when millions of Chinese holidaymakers travel abroad. The Maldives has long been a favourite destination during this period, offering warm weather, direct flights and a reputation for privacy and luxury that appeals to families and young couples alike.
Air connectivity has expanded significantly. Major Chinese carriers — China Eastern, Beijing Capital Airlines and Sichuan Airlines — now operate regular flights to Malé. The Maldives’ national airline, Maldivian, has also opened new routes to Chinese cities, strengthening two‑way travel and giving the market a further lift.
Visit Maldives has intensified its promotional campaigns across China, using platforms such as WeChat and Weibo to reach younger travellers and families planning festival‑season holidays. The Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation has also returned to major travel fairs in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, aiming to restore the country’s pre‑pandemic visibility.
Behind China, Russia remains the second‑largest market, followed by Italy, the United Kingdom and Germany. Collectively, these markets have helped push total arrivals this year to more than 312,000, an increase on the same period in 2024. Visitors currently spend an average of 7.7 days in the country, with daily arrivals hovering around 7,600.
