Maldives tourist arrivals increase 11.5 percent in first half of 2014

Tourist arrivals in the Maldives increased 11.5 percent from January to June 2014 with the total number of arrivals at 601,513 during the first six months of the year, compared with the same period of 2013, Ministry of Tourism has revealed.

Europe remained the leading market generator to the Maldives with 46.5 percent shares at the end of June 2014. Arrivals from Europe were recorded at 279,886 tourists for the period.

Asia and the Pacific Region held the second-most number of arrivals, 279,621, at the end of June 2014, leading to a growth rate of 22.3 percent for the period.

Maldives received a total of 83,347 tourists in the month of June, a 9 percent increase compared to June 2013.

China took hold of 36 percent shares during the month of June 2014. Total arrivals from the market reached a total of 171,249 during the six months until the end of June 2014 with a growth of 20.2 percent.