News Desk
Tourist arrivals to the Maldives have taken a marked hit in recent days as the war in the Middle East forces airlines to cancel or divert flights, cutting off a major transit link for several of the country’s biggest markets. The disruption reflects wider turbulence across the region, with airports in the Middle East scaling back operations after the latest escalation.
The Tourism Ministry reports a steep drop in daily arrivals. Before the conflict intensified, the Maldives received around 6,000 visitors a day. That figure has now slipped to about 4,000, a fall of roughly one third. Officials say the decline stems from flight cancellations and altered schedules as carriers avoid conflict‑affected airspace.
In the last five days of the month, 15,535 tourists arrived, a 31 percent decrease compared with the same period last year. The figures underline how heavily the country’s tourism depends on Middle Eastern aviation hubs, where even short‑term instability sends shockwaves through the sector.
The Maldives relies on long‑haul connectivity through Gulf carriers, and officials estimate that travellers transiting the Middle East make up about 35 percent of daily arrivals. When airports in the region restrict operations, the impact is immediate. On one recent day, 14 flights bound for Malé were cancelled.
Tour operators say cancellations are rising as travellers hesitate to fly through high‑tension zones. Resort operators, already dealing with higher fuel and import costs, warn that a prolonged conflict could deepen the strain.
Despite the downturn, the Maldives’ main markets remain steady in annual totals. China leads with 78,882 visitors so far this year, followed by Russia with 56,549, Italy with 48,275, the United Kingdom with 45,403 and Germany with 30,737. These markets depend heavily on Middle Eastern transit hubs, leaving them exposed to further disruption.
Tourism officials say they are working with airlines to stabilise schedules, though the sector faces an uncertain period as the conflict continues.
