Tourist arrivals increase by 18.7 percent in first half of 2019

Tourism Ministry reports 862,589 tourist arrivals were recorded in Maldives in the first two quarters of 2019 – an 18.7 percent increase compared to the first two quarters of 2018.

Tourism Ministry reports records collected from Maldives Immigration and tourist facilities registered with the government shows development to the national tourism industry.

113,475 tourist arrivals were recorded in June alone; a 21 percent increase compared to June 2018.

Records show the biggest source market for Maldivian tourism was the European market – which made up for 50.3 percent of the total tourist arrivals in the first two quarters.

The European market shows a 16.5 percent growth rate with total 433,847 tourist arrivals in the first two quarters.

The second biggest source market for Maldivian tourism was the Asia Pacific market – which made for 40.4 percent of the total tourist arrivals. 348,779 Asia Pacific tourists visited Maldives in the first two quarters.

China remains the top source market for Maldivian tourism by country, followed by India.

Tourism Ministry reports major growth in separate source markets.

Meanwhile, the tourism occupancy rate shows a 2.4 percent improvement by the end of the first two quarters.

The average occupancy rate of tourist facilities stood at 66 percent.

An average of 45,772 beds out of 48,825 beds registered at Tourism Ministry were operational, and the nights spent by tourists in Maldives rose by 14.7 percent.

However, the average duration of stay by tourists during the period was recorded at 6.3 days – a slight 0.3 percent drop from the average duration of stay in 2018.