More than half a million tourists visit in less than three months

Mar 13, 2025, 12:15 PM
Tourists in a guesthouse. -- Photo: Stone Hotels

Tourists in a guesthouse. -- Photo: Stone Hotels

Tourism Ministry statistics have shown that more than half a million tourists have visited Maldives so far this year.

According to the figures, 500,233 tourists had arrived in Maldives by March 12. This is an increase of 4.6 percent compared to last year.

The majority of tourists came from China. The country accounts for 12 percent of the tourist market, followed by the UK and Russia with 10 percent.

The number of tourists from neighboring India remains low and the country is ranked sixth among source markets.

About 69 percent of 345,495 of the tourists stayed in resorts while 25 percent stayed in guesthouses.

However, the tourist arrivals were low in February. Around 217,392 tourists visited in February 2024 while the number is at 214,091 this year.

A record two million visitors arrived in the Maldives in 2024. The government has set a target of attracting 2.3 million tourists this year.

Comments

Read More

Latest News

Star Medical to host free pre-pregnancy session for couples

Star Medical will host a free pre-pregnancy awareness session for couples on September 24 at 8:45 pm. Led by experienced nurses, the event offers guidance on healthy conception and a Q&A segment. Interested couples can register by contacting the clinic directly.

Businesses face challenges in securing dollar support from BML

Bank of Maldives has notified businesses that dollar support for transfers is now strictly subject to availability. Importers face automatic cancellations if accounts lack full invoice amounts, as the bank struggles with a severe foreign exchange shortage. Business owners report receiving zero support and no prior notice of these changes.

Dollar transfers will return to normal within next week: BML

Bank of Maldives expects dollar transfer services to return to normal next week following recent delays caused by a surge in demand. The bank implemented measures to manage unsustainable outflows from Rufiyaa accounts, noting that the issue is a temporary supply imbalance and not a reflection of its overall financial health.

BML denies funding $50 million debt repayment to SBI

Bank of Maldives denied claims that it provided $50 million to the government for debt repayment to the State Bank of India. The bank clarified that no customer deposits or internal resources were used for the payment. BML maintained its financial stability despite ongoing dollar liquidity challenges and warned against spreading misinformation.

Exclusive: Maldives sought extension on $50M India debt

The Maldives government requested a further extension to repay a final $50 million debt installment to India, but the request was denied. Despite the refusal, the Maldives settled the payment last week using its Sovereign Development Fund. This follows previous rollovers and a $50 million grant provided by India earlier this year.

Businesses allege BML is blocking USD transfers

Business owners are accusing the Bank of Maldives of blocking USD transfers to other banks amid a liquidity crisis. Despite having sufficient funds, traders report significant delays in processing payments and transfers via the MRTGS system. BML cited a backlog, reportedly prioritizing essential imports like food and medicine.

Government settles final $50 million debt to SBI

The government has fully repaid a $150 million debt to the State Bank of India, settling the final $50 million installment this month. The debt, originally incurred in 2019, was cleared in three stages under the current administration. This payment is part of a broader $2.3 billion effort to service foreign debt over the last two years.

Newsletter

Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox