Maldives Tourism Surpasses 800,000 Visitors by April 2026 Under Expanded Framework

MALDIVES – The Maldives welcomed 801,436 international visitors in the first four months of 2026, a 25.1% increase compared to the same period last year. According to the latest data from the official April 2026 report published by the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (MOTCA), this significant growth follows the transition to an "Enhanced Data Coverage" framework. Starting January 2026, statistics now include all visitor categories, including 13,808 cruise passengers and 6,259 business travelers alongside 781,369 traditional tourists.

Market Leaders & Demographics

• Top 3 Markets: China leads the market with 119,270 arrivals (15.3% share), followed by Russia with 102,241 (13.1%) and the United Kingdom with 71,873 (9.2%).
• Growth Spurt: China saw a 30.1% year-over-year surge, while Russia grew by 18.0%.
• Gender Split: Female travelers continue to outnumber male travelers, making up 423,029 of the year-to-date arrivals compared to 358,333 males.

Accommodation & Operational Trends

• April Slump: Despite a strong start to the year, April 2026 saw a 24.4% drop in monthly arrivals (152,861) compared to April 2025.
• Occupancy & Stay: The average occupancy rate for the four-month period stood at 63.8%, though it dipped to 48.9% in April. However, the average duration of stay increased slightly to 7.1 days (up from 6.9 days in 2025).
• Capacity Expansion: The Maldives expanded its capacity, averaging 67,392 operational beds—a 7.5% increase over last year. Resorts remain the preferred choice, hosting 69.7% of all tourists.

Gateways to the Maldives

Velaana International Airport remains the primary point of entry, processing 777,508 visitors. Sea ports brought in 13,808 arrivals via the new tracking metrics, while regional facilities like Gan and Maafaru International Airports distributed the remaining traffic directly to the atolls.