India – top source market for tourist arrivals in 2020

Statistics released by Tourism Ministry show India was the top source market for tourist arrivals to Maldives in 2020.

With the increase in Maldives’ popularity among Indian celebrities and the air travel bubble between Maldives and India, many Indian tourists continued to travel to the island destination even amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Indian airlines operating scheduled flights to Maldives include Air India, IndiGo, GoAir, and SpiceJet. Meanwhile, Air Vistara is operating charter flights.

Statistics released by Tourism Ministry show 62,905 tourists visited Maldives from India in 2020, making for 11.3 percent of the market share. India had been the second top source market for tourist arrivals back in 2019, with China taking the top spot.

Chinese tourists haven’t begun returning to Maldives since the border restrictions due to the pandemic.

The second top source market for tourist arrivals in 2020 was Russia, with 61,388 arrivals. It made for 11.1 percent of the market share. It is followed by 52,716 arrivals from the United Kingdom, 46,690 arrivals from Italy, and 36,435 arrivals from Germany.

Total 555,399 tourists visited Maldives in 2020.