Tourist arrivals in the Maldives crossed the half a million mark in the first six months of the current year despite the challenges posed by the renewed Covid wave across the region. From 1 January to 25 June, the country welcomed 500,406 tourists, data released by the Ministry of Tourism shows. 

The figure is, however, almost 40 percent less in comparison to the same period in 2019 when it recorded 843,062 arrivals. In comparison to 2020, it grew by almost 30 percent. Though, tourism activities in the archipelago had remained shut from March 24 to July. 

With arrivals from India, the top source market for the Maldives, declining due to the Covid-19 situation in that country, Russia currently dominates the arrivals market contributing 24.3 percent with 120,514 arrivals recorded by June 23. 

Russia is followed by India making up 18 percent with 89,599 arrivals by June 23. Third, comes Germany contributing 5.5 percent of tourist arrivals. A total of 27,151 tourist arrivals were recorded between January 1 – June 23.

Ukraine, United States, Kazakhstan, United Kingdom, Romania, France, and the Czech Republic are also considered some of the biggest tourist markets for the Maldives.

Much of the growth hopes in the last two months, May and June, were dashed by the Covid resurgence in the region. The country had to ban tourists from South Asian countries, including India, one of its top markets, especially for celebrities. 

(SAM)