News Desk
Tourist arrivals to the Maldives fell by 56,014 visitors compared to the same period last year, throwing cold water on government forecasts for a record-breaking year in the tourism sector.
Latest figures released by the Ministry of Tourism show the country registered 1,595,923 visitor arrivals up to 29 September, marking a 3.4 per cent drop compared to 2025. Daily arrivals currently average 5,867 visitors, alongside 15,583 cruise ship passengers recorded so far this year.
China continues to dominate as the top market, bringing in 298,891 tourists—accounting for 19.1 per cent of total arrivals. Russia holds second place with 228,681 visitors (14.6 per cent), followed by the United Kingdom in third with 119,687 arrivals (7.6 per cent).
Out of the 67,869 operationl beds across the country, resorts account for 66 per cent, while guesthouses make up 25 per cent. Operational bed capacity reflects visitor choices, with 73.7 per cent of tourists opting to stay at resorts and 22 per cent choosing island guesthouses.
The decline comes despite ambitious government projections targeting 2.2 million arrivals for the year. While the Maldives welcomed 2 million tourists last year, current trends indicate the industry faces an uphill battle to hit the state’s updated target before year-end.
