Russian market shares drop, total tourist arrivals increases

Despite a drop in the number of tourists from Russia owing to the war in Ukraine, the total arrivals to Maldives recorded in February increased.

According to the Ministry of Tourism’s statistics, 149,008 tourists visited Maldives in February. This is a 13 percent increase compared to January.

Prior to the war that started on February 24, arrivals from Russia made up for 15.1 percent of tourists visiting Maldives.

However, the numbers have now dropped, and only 13.7 percent of tourists are from Russia.

So far this year, 359,272 tourists came to Maldives – a 48.8 percent increment compared to the same period last year.

Travel agencies that target the Russian market say that bookings are being cancelled, and the number of new bookings was also low.

Experts predict that although the effects of the war have not been reflected so far, it would be more prominent in the coming days.