Despite a significant surge in tourist arrivals during the first two months of the year, the Maldives' tourism sector has faced a major setback following the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
While the government initially projected continued growth, the latest statistics from the Tourism Ministry reveal a downward trend in arrival numbers.
In January, the industry saw a five percent growth with 227,403 arrivals, followed by a record-breaking February. Arrivals during that month saw a 15.7 percent increase compared to the same period the previous year.
However, the landscape shifted dramatically in March, as tourist arrivals plummeted to 166,616. This represents a sharp decline of 20.7 percent compared to March 2025.
The significant drop in arrivals is attributed to the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. With Middle Eastern airlines being the primary carriers for tourists to the Maldives, the closure of airports and the grounding of flights have dealt a severe blow to the industry.
This negative impact has persisted into April. During the first seven days of the month, the Maldives recorded 36,333 arrivals, marking a 26 percent decrease compared to the same period last year.
The situation appears even more serious when excluding business travellers and cruise liner passengers to focus solely on tourists. Total arrivals for the year currently stand at 670,102, falling short of the 681,496 recorded during the same period in 2025.
The average daily arrival rate has also slipped from 7,026 to 6,908.
Among the top ten source markets, China remains the leading contributor, with over 100,000 arrivals. Russia follows in second place, accounting for 12 percent of the market share.
The Indian market has dropped from fifth to sixth place, now holding only a 4.2 percent share. This is a poor performance given the significant investments made to promote tourism between the two nations.
As of yesterday, resorts accounted for 69 percent of total tourist stays. Guesthouses hold a 25.9 percent share, with 930 properties currently in operation across the country.
