Arrivals to Maldives highest on Saturday since border reopening

Velana International Airport, the main hub of the Maldives, experienced an extremely busy Saturday in terms of operations, according to the Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL). 

MACL said that Saturday was the day with the highest number of international arrivals since the Maldives reopened on July 15. 

According to MACL, Velana International Airport received 3,100 tourists last Saturday with a total of 352 air traffic movements recorded. 

Our New Traffic Record per single day on 05th December 2020 @VelanaAirport

Air Traffic Movements – 352
International Passenger Arrivals – 3,100+ pic.twitter.com/zSC6O7KJng

— Maldives Airports Company Ltd - MACL (@MACLmedia) December 7, 2020

Two more airlines also commenced travel to the Maldives, bringing the grand total of operational international airlines to 20.

Tourism Minister Dr. Abdulla Mausoom also hailed the figures of the day when he tweeted thanking everyone that helped to bring tourist arrival figures per day from zero to 3,000. 

Congratulations travel and tourism industry. Another #NewRecord of daily arrivals to #Maldives since border reopened. Today tourist arrivals 2900 plus.
How do we thank you all for bringing daily arrivals from zero to near 3000 in just 20 weeks?
Thank you all very very much!!

— Abdulla Mausoom (@Mausoom_Maus) December 5, 2020

The Ministry has also estimated that the revised tourist arrival target of 500,000 in 2020 will be achieved later this month. When the borders reopened in July, Maldives had recorded just 100 tourists on average per day. However, the figure is now calculated at 1,500.