News Desk
MALE’ — Tourist arrivals from Australia have risen 16 percent so far this year, with 20,878 Australians visiting the Maldives compared to 17,957 during the same period in 2025, according to official data released on 6 June.
The growth has pushed Australia to ninth place among the Maldives’ largest source markets, up one position from the previous month. Industry analysts attribute much of the increase to the launch of direct flights between Velana International Airport and Melbourne by national carrier Maldivian last month. The service operates weekly, departing Male’ every Sunday and returning from Melbourne every Tuesday.
The Australian market’s performance is particularly notable given the broader context. Overall arrivals have been under pressure in 2026, with the Middle East conflict disrupting transit routes that connect European markets to the Maldives. Australia, which now has a direct connection, is moving in the opposite direction.
The Maldives recorded 2.2 million total arrivals in 2025. The government has been actively pursuing market diversification to reduce reliance on any single region, and the Australian growth offers some evidence that the strategy is producing results.
The country’s hospitality infrastructure now spans 64,065 registered beds across 179 resorts, 16 hotels, 918 guesthouses and 171 safari vessels. Kaafu Atoll remains the largest single market, with 25,040 beds including 7,878 in the local island guesthouse sector. Other atolls showing growth in guesthouse capacity include Alif Alif with 2,258 beds, Alif Dhaal with 1,848 and Baa Atoll with 1,342.
The Melbourne route is six weeks old. The 16 percent year-on-year growth in Australian arrivals predates the launch, suggesting underlying demand was already building. How much the direct flight accelerates that trend over a full year will be the more meaningful measure.
