Maldives tourism continues its upward trajectory, supported by expanding resort and guesthouse capacity and strong performance across key source markets, signalling continued sector growth and economic contribution.
PSM News
Tourist arrivals to the Maldives reached 1.7 million by the end of October 2025, recording an increase of 9.9 percent compared to the corresponding period last year, according to the latest Maldives Tourism Updates published by the Ministry of Tourism and Environment. A total of 180,342 arrivals were recorded between 1 – 29 October 2025, marking an increase of 11.7 percent compared to the same period in 2024. Average daily arrivals in October 2025 stood at 6,016, up from 5,333 recorded at the end of October 2024. While 98.8 percent of total registered beds were reported to be in operation at the time of publication, 67.0 percent of the bed capacity was provided by 176 resorts, and 24.0 percent by 934 guesthouses.
Monthly arrivals exceeded 200,000 during the first quarter, and although the second quarter reflected typical seasonal moderation, performance still surpassed previous years. According to the statistics published by Maldives Bureau of Statistics, the gross value added (GVA) of accommodation and food services grew by 13.7 percent in the second quarter of this year compared to the corresponding quarter of last year, with the increase in number of tourist bed-nights. The July-October period maintained solid momentum, averaging around 177,000 visitors per month. Industry performance is expected to remain strong and comparatively higher in the final quarter of the year.
Despite growth in arrivals, the Economic Update (September 2025) published by the Maldives Monetary Authority noted that the average stay declined to 6.9 days for the period from January to August 2025, compared to 7.7 days during the same period in 2024. As average stay reflects the mean number of nights an inbound tourist spends in the Maldives, maintaining this metric is crucial for sustaining the per-visitor contribution to the economy.
Resorts continue to dominate accommodation, attracting 73.8 of all tourist arrivals, while 21.4 percent stayed in guesthouses located on inhibited islands, reflecting a growing interest in local-island experiences and budget travel. As of 29 October 2025, the Ministry reported 1,297 registered
tourist facilities offering a total of 66,824 beds. This includes 181 resorts, 934 guesthouses, 16 hotels, and 166 safari vessels, indicating a notable year-on-year increase in both guesthouses and safari vessels.
As of 29 October 2025, China remained the largest source market, representing a market share of 16.1 percent. Russia followed with 226,363 arrivals, capturing 12.5 percent of total arrivals compared to 10.9 percent in 2024. Among European markets, the United Kingdom recorded 160,693 arrivals (8.8 percent share), Germany 133,460 arrivals (7.3 percent), and Italy 119,859 arrivals (6.6 percent). Overall, the top five source markets accounted for 51.3 percent of total tourist arrivals, highlighting the continued reliance on key Asian and European markets while also reflecting steady year-on-year growth across major contributors.
The tourism sector thus continues to show resilience and vitality as it heads into the peak season, placing the country on course to achieve its annual target. With steady arrival growth, and an expanding accommodation base, the country remains on a strong and promising trajectory.
