The annual growth in tourist arrivals fell to 2.6 percent last month after very high rates during the first three months of the year.
According to statistics from the Tourism Ministry, tourist arrivals increased 11.5 percent in January, 22.2 percent in February and 11.9 percent in March compared to the same periods last year. A monthly arrivals record was set in February with 217,392 tourists visiting during the month.
As the growth in tourist arrivals slowed in April, 168,647 tourists visited during the month.
Tourism Ministry statistics show that 772,651 tourists visited the Maldives by the end of last month, an increase of 12.3 percent compared to the number of tourist arrivals recorded by the end of April last year.
Looking at tourist arrivals from different countries so far this year, the number of Chinese tourists has increased by 169 percent as the number of Indian tourists declined by 42 percent. While a total of 83,835 tourists visited from China by the end of April, the number of Indian tourists stood at 42,683.
India was the top source market for tourists to the Maldives last year.
Top five markets this year
- China - 83,835 tourists with 10.9 percent market share
- Russia - 77,632 tourists with 10 percent market share
- UK - 75,253 tourists with 9.7 percent market share
- Italy - 70,514 tourists with 9.1 percent market share
- Germany - 60,033 tourists with 7.8 percent market share
According to the Tourism Ministry, 62,232 tourist beds were in operation at 1,182 properties and 40 airlines operated flights to the Maldives.
