Business
Maldives posts strong gains in tourist arrivals amidst summer low
Maldives has posted strong gains in tourist arrivals in June, as properties across the archipelago cope with the traditionally low summer season.
Official figures for the month of June released by the tourism ministry show that a total of 85,222 tourists visited the Maldives during the month — a 7.8 percent increase over the 79,034 tourists in June 2016.
Travel trends and demographics remain largely unchanged, as the European market continued its recovery while the Chinese market posted another major decline.
Europe, the largest regional source market which has been recovering after a period of falling growth, posted an overall growth of 13.8 percent over June 2016 as arrivals increased to 29,194 from 25,661. Important European markets such as the UK (up 3.2 percent), Germany (up 49.1 percent) and Italy (up 7.2 percent) performed well last month, while recovery in the Russian market was again evident as Russian visitors to the Maldives increased by 11 percent in June to reach 3,262 compared to the 2,939 in June 2016.
However, Asia, which has recently become a major emerging source market, observed a slight drop in total arrivals, as the number decreased by 0.9 percent. This decline is largely due to recent declines in the Chinese market, which continued its downward spiral last month as well with a drop of 12.5 percent. Taking into account the latest decline, arrivals from China have decreased 10.3 percent in the first half of this year compared to the same period of last year.
However, South and Southeast Asia continued their positive growth trend in June as well, as India, the Maldives’ closest neighbour, observed a growth of 8.1 percent, while South East Asian countries such as Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand also posted significant gains; 33 percent, 19.2 percent and 4.5 percent respectively.
Relatively new markets such as Australia and the Americas also recorded significant growth in arrivals — 10.4 percent and 25.3 percent respectively — with arrivals from the US increasing by 26.8 percent, 24.9 percent from Canada and 9.7 percent from Brazil.
After months of negative growth, Middle East, which has become an emerging source market for the Maldives, also showed signs of recovery in June, as arrivals from the region increased by 3.1 percent. This positive growth was mainly because of a 161.3 percent rise in arrivals from Saudi Arabia and a 777.1 percent increase in the number of tourists that visited the Maldives from the United Arab Emirates.
According to the June statistics, total arrivals for the first half of the year increased by 6.1 percent to reach 657,540 compared to the 619,921 in the same period of last year.
After years of double-digit growth in tourism, the Maldives has over the recent years observed a slowdown in growth. Tourist arrivals have crossed the one million milestone and is on course to reach 1.5 million by the end of this year, but the country has been struggling to create demand amidst a significant increase in bed capacity.
However, the latest figures are a welcome sign for the Maldives tourism industry, which is the main economic activity in the island nation, as summer period has traditionally been considered the low season. To attract more travellers from May to September, resorts in the Maldives have announced special offers with hefty discounts and a host of other benefits.
Maldives on Thursday welcomed the one millionth tourist to visit this year.
The one millionth tourist is a Thai named Sutapa Amonwivat, who arrived from Singapore with her husband and two children. This is her second visit to Maldives.
Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) and the Ministry of Tourism gave a warm welcome to Sutapa at the Velana International Airport (VIA) Thursday afternoon. She was welcomed at the VIA by tourism minister Ibrahim Faisal, MMPRC Managing Director Ibrahim Shiury and senior officials of various relevant agencies.
After welcoming her with traditional offerings, she was presented with various gifts by the ministry, MMPRC, customs, immigration, Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) and Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA).
Maldives reached one million tourists in June, three weeks earlier than last year. The number of tourists reached one million on July 16, 2023.
Maldives expects to reach 2 million tourists this year.
Chongqing Airlines on Monday began its inaugural flights to Maldives.
The Chongqing-Male route, scheduled three times a week, is expected to strengthen the bonds between China and the Maldives, opening up exciting new opportunities for tourism and cultural exchange.
The inaugural flight was welcomed upon its arrival at Velana International Airport (VIA) in Maldives, where local officials and tourism representatives expressed their enthusiasm for this new development.
“We warmly welcome our friends from China to our beautiful islands. This new connection strengthens our bonds and opens up new opportunities for tourism,” the tourism ministry said on X.
Maldives currently welcomes four airlines from China, including China Eastern, Beijing Capital Airlines, Xiamen Airlines.
In January, Maldives government urged tourism stakeholders in both Maldives and China to ramp up efforts to restore China’s position as the primary source market for Maldives tourism, a status held before the onset of Covid-19.
China, being the largest source market for Maldives tourism before the pandemic, saw a resumption of tourist arrivals from January 2023 after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic. In 2023, the Maldives welcomed 187,118 Chinese tourists, marking a significant recovery in numbers. This year, the Maldives has welcomed the most number of tourists from China, with over 107,940 or 11.5 percent of total arrivals by June 12.
CROSSROADS Maldives has introduced WeChat Pay, widely known as Weixin Pay in China, across its world-class resorts, SAii Lagoon Maldives, Curio Collection by Hilton, and Hard Rock Hotel Maldives. This payment option is made available to enhance the convenience and overall experience for guests from China, making their stay in the Maldives more enjoyable and hassle-free.
Understanding the needs of the diverse guests, CROSSROADS Maldives has integrated WeChat Pay into operations, allowing guests from China to easily and securely conduct transactions using a payment method familiar to them. The introduction of WeChat Pay is a testament to CROSSROADS Maldives’ dedication to enhancing guest satisfaction by offering exceptional experiences at every turn. What is also expected through this initiative is that the guests could benefit from better foreign exchange rates, translating to better savings on their expenditures during their stay.
The option is available for guests in-house conveniently at both resorts as well as across the Marina at CROSSROADS Maldives where a wider variety of unparalleled dining and retail experiences are available for all guests. The day visitors from China will also therefore equally benefit from this new introduction at the Maldives’ premier multi-island integrated leisure destination.
SAii Lagoon Maldives, Curio Collection by Hilton, is a vibrant tropical escape that offers unique and locally inspired experiences. The resort features spacious rooms and villas, a variety of dining options, and an array of recreational activities designed to cater to the desires of modern travellers. Guests can escape to the island’s SAiisational natural beauty, enjoy water sports, and indulge in spa treatments, all while relishing the personalised service that defines Hilton’s Curio Collection.
Hard Rock Hotel Maldives brings the iconic Hard Rock spirit to the tranquil shores of the Maldives. This family-friendly resort offers a perfect blend of relaxation and entertainment, featuring music-inspired experiences, live performances, and the brand’s signature amenities. With luxurious accommodations, diverse dining options, and a plethora of activities for all ages, Hard Rock Hotel Maldives ensures an unforgettable holiday experience for every guest.
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