Business
Maldives concludes March with 22 per cent hike in tourist arrivals
Maldives has concluded another high performing month in tourist arrivals, as the number of tourists that visited the Indian Ocean island nation hiked by 22 per cent in March.
Official figures for the month of March released by the tourism ministry show that a total of 162,843 tourists visited the Maldives during the month — a 22 per cent increase over the 133,466 tourists in March 2018.
Growth in Europe, the largest regional source market, contributed to the stellar performance in March, as arrivals increased by 12.2 per cent to reach 92,474 from 82,383.
The UK, which is the single biggest European source market, made a gain of 4.6per cent, whilst several other major European markets such as Italy, France and Switzerland also posted gains of 38.5 per cent, 36.5 per cent and four per cent respectively. Arrivals from Germany, the second largest European source market, also increased by 11.1 per cent, whilst Russian travellers continued to show their appetite for the Maldives as arrival numbers jumped 18 per cent in March to reach 9,282 from 7,867 in March 2018.
Arrivals from Asia, the second largest regional source market, posted positive growth of 35.4 per cent in March.
The Chinese market, which has been showing signs of recovery this year, recorded a 47.5 per cent growth, as arrivals reached 19,479 in March 2018 from 13,203 in March 2018. This strong performance widened the increase in arrivals from the Maldives’ single biggest source market for the January-March period to 5.6 per cent.
However, several major contributors to Maldives tourism from South East Asia, which have been posting strong gains over the past year, posted declines in March, with arrivals from countries such as Malaysia, Thailand and Philippines decreasing by 5.1 per cent, 15.7 per cent, and 43.5 per cent respectively. Arrivals from Singapore, however, increased by 35.6 per cent.
In contrast, growth in South Asia, which has become one of the fastest growing source markets, accelerated by an impressive 97.1 per cent in March. This major gain in the South Asian market is mainly due to an increase of 140.8 per cent in arrivals from India, the Maldives’ closest neighbour.
Relatively new markets such as the Americas and Africa also performed well in March.
Arrivals from the US, which has secured a place amongst the top 10 contributors to Maldives tourism, increased by 62.8 per cent to reach 6,583 last month compared to the 4,043 in March 2018, whilst the number of visitors from Australia also increased by 28.2 per cent. South Africa, which has been on the recovery, also posted an increase of 46.2 per cent.
Middle East, which has proven to be a volatile market, posted a 37.4 per cent growth. Arrivals from almost all major Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates posted negative growth of 59.5 per cent, 36.2 per cent, 7 per cent, 118.6 per cent and 11.3 per cent respectively.
According to the March statistics, total arrivals for the first three months of the year increased by 15 per cent to reach 482,978 compared to the 420,103 in the same period of last year.
Tourist demographics remained largely unchanged in the first three months of the year, as Europe dominated with a marketshare of 56 per cent of the total tourist arrivals, followed by Asia Pacific with 35 per cent marketshare. Americas secured the third position with five per cent marketshare, whilst Middle East slid to the fourth with three per cent marketshare. African countries also contributed one per cent to the total tourist arrivals to the Maldives.
All the top 10 source markets posted positive growth in arrivals by the end of March.
China (15.9 per cent marketshare), Italy (10.9 per cent marketshare), Germany (7.7 per cent marketshare), the UK (7.5 per cent marketshare) and India (7.5 per cent marketshare) secured the first, second, third, fourth and fifth position, respectively. France contributed 5.5 per cent to the total arrivals and posted a growth of 28 per cent to secure the sixth place, whilst Russia (5.4 per cent marketshare), the US (3.4 per cent marketshare) and Japan (2.3 per cent marketshare) followed on the seventh, eighth and ninth position, respectively. Although growth in the Swedish market declined by 1.1 per cent, Swedish visitors accounted to 2.2 per cent of total arrivals making it the 10th biggest source market to Maldives tourism.
Maldives welcomed a record 1.4 million tourists in 2018. It was a 6.8 per cent increase from the 1,389,542 tourists that chose to holiday in the Maldives in 2017.
Other factors such as average duration of stay, bed nights and occupancy also posted positive growth in 2018.
This positive growth in the tourism industry comes amidst concerns by private organisations representing industry stakeholders such as the Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) over the lack of effort and budget to promote the Maldives as a destination.
These concerns come as the world-famous holiday destination struggles to match an increased bed capacity.
Over the past few years, dozens of uninhabited islands have been leased to local and foreign resort developers. Several international brands have entered into the market, increasing the number of resorts to more than 130. That number is set to increase as another 20 resorts are expected to open over the next two years.
Along with the new resort openings come the challenge of increasing demand from budget travellers who choose guesthouses over luxury resorts that the Maldives is known for. The guesthouse sector has rapidly expanded with over 500 guesthouses in operation today.
The previous government announced steps to maintain a structured growth in tourism, including a slowdown in leasing islands for resort development and increased marketing efforts in key markets such as China and the Middle East in order to reach an ambitious target of a record 1.5 million tourist arrivals this year.
Meanwhile, the new government has pledged to ramp up tourism promotion.
Reflecting the new government’s pledge, the state budget for 2019 includes MVR 104,200,000 (USD 6.7 million) for tourism promotion, up from MVR 34,733,333 (USD 2.2 million) this year and the previous year.
Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC/ Visit Maldives) has announced the ‘Maldives Culture and Food Festival’, a two-day extravaganza showcasing the Maldivian cuisine, local arts and craft, and entertainment.
The festival will take place at Central Park, Hulhumale’, on New Year’s Eve, December 31st, 2024, and continue into New Year’s Day, January 1st, 2025, offering a unique and immersive experience for locals and tourists alike.
This exciting initiative by MMPRC is a collaborative effort involving key partners such as the Ministry of Tourism (MOT), Housing Development Corporation (HDC), MyHulhumale’, Business Center Corporation (BCC), Male’ City Council, Waste Management Corporation Limited (WAMCO), the Maldives Police Service, Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), Public Service Media (PSM), Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), Dhiraagu, Ooredoo, Manta Air, Maldivian, Ace Travels, and Gulf Air. It promises a dynamic programme filled with performances, activities, and food stalls. Attendees will have the opportunity to savour authentic Maldivian dishes, explore traditional arts and crafts, and witness captivating cultural performances.
On December 31st, the festivities will begin at 20:00 with doors opening to the public. A spectacular drone show will be held, depicting a tourist’s journey through the beautiful Maldives. The evening will continue with captivating cultural performances including Boduberu performances, and “Dhafi Negun”. A New Year’s Eve countdown will also take place, culminating in a dazzling fireworks display to welcome 2025.
The celebrations will continue on January 1st 2025 from 16:00 to 22:00, with the festival reopening and featuring food and arts and crafts stalls. A range of family-friendly activities will be available, including a police and fire truck showcase, a climbing wall, a bounce house, and a Transformers display. Additionally, the festival will feature energetic Boduberu performances and an exciting Roboman showcase.
“MMPRC is proud to present the first Maldives Culture and Food Festival,” said Ibrahim Shiuree, CEO and MD of MMPRC. “This event is a key initiative to celebrate the achievements of the Maldives in 2024 and to promote the diverse cultural heritage of the Maldives while providing a memorable experience for locals and visitors. We invite everyone to join us in celebrating the Maldivian spirit as we bid farewell to 2024 and welcome the new year.”
Barcelo Nasandhura Malé, the Maldives’ newest luxury destination, is set to open its doors in Q1 2025.
Located on the site of the former Nasandhura Palace Hotel, the property will become the largest hotel in the capital, Malé. With 136 elegantly designed rooms, including 95 with stunning ocean views, and 116 luxurious serviced apartments, Barcelo Nasandhura Malé promises a unique blend of sophistication, comfort, and convenience in the heart of this vibrant city.
Operated by the renowned Spanish hotel chain Barcelo Group, the hotel represents a significant expansion of the brand’s presence in the Maldives and beyond. Barcelo Group, known for its exceptional resorts, recently opened Barcelo Whale Lagoon Maldives in South Ari Atoll in August 2024, further solidifying its growing portfolio in the region. In addition to its Maldivian properties, Barcelo Group manages a range of high-profile hotels across the UAE, Thailand, and several European countries.
Barcelo Nasandhura Malé will feature an array of premium facilities, including four upscale dining outlets, a rooftop shisha bar, an oceanfront pool, a state-of-the-art gym, and a luxurious spa. The hotel will also boast 1,034 square meters of versatile MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) space, making it an ideal venue for corporate events and gatherings.
While some serviced apartments were initially intended for residential use, they will now be available for daily rental, offering guests enhanced flexibility and a wider range of accommodation options. Originally scheduled to open on December 1, 2024, the opening has been slightly delayed due to minor construction work. However, the team remains committed to ensuring Barcelo Nasandhura Malé is ready to welcome its first guests in Q1 2025.
Barcelo Hotel Group, awarded World’s Leading Hotel Management Company 2023 by the World Travel Awards, is the second-largest hotel chain in Spain and ranks among the 30 largest globally in terms of the number of rooms. Founded in 1931, this family-run organisation operates 280 four- and five-star city and holiday hotels, offering more than 62,000 rooms across 25 countries. The group markets its hotels under four distinct brands, each focused on providing diverse and memorable travel experiences.
Renowned for its commitment to excellence and sustainability, Barcelo Hotel Group delivers exceptional stays, seamlessly blending luxury, comfort, and environmental responsibility.
As part of its ‘Masters for Masters’ series, The Nautilus Maldives will host Denise Hoefer, Germany’s No. 1 padel player and one of the world’s top 50 most influential figures in the padel industry, for an exclusive Padel Masterclass from March 22 to 25, 2025. This exceptional event invites guests to enhance their padel skills under the expert guidance of a global champion, all set against the stunning backdrop of the Maldives’ Indian Ocean.
Padel, recognised as the world’s fastest-growing sport, has captured the hearts of 30 million enthusiasts globally, according to the International Padel Federation. This March, The Nautilus will provide a unique opportunity for guests to immerse themselves in this thrilling game during a four-day Padel Masterclass led by Denise Hoefer, Germany’s top-ranked female padel player and captain of the German national team. Participants will refine their techniques on The Nautilus’s state-of-the-art padel court, while experiencing the island’s signature blend of world-class coaching and timeless, unscripted hospitality.
The Padel Masterclass will feature a tailored mix of group and private sessions, catering to players of all levels. Younger participants will have the chance to join the Young Wonderers program, offering specially designed classes that introduce the sport in a fun and engaging way. After an energising day on the court, guests can unwind at Solasta Spa, where exclusive treatments by Maison Caulières—such as Spinal Connection Deep Tissue Healing, Volcanic Stone Therapy, and Warm Poultices—promise ultimate relaxation and rejuvenation. These tranquil spa experiences provide a perfect complement to the day’s dynamic activities, leaving participants refreshed and revitalised.
With just 26 ultra-luxury houses and residences, The Nautilus offers an intimate sanctuary within the Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Surrounded by powder-soft white sands, vibrant coral reefs, and crystal-clear waters, this private island retreat redefines bespoke hospitality. Every element is meticulously crafted to inspire, offering guests an unparalleled ultra-luxury experience focused on relaxation, renewal, and discovery. Whether honing padel skills or embracing the serenity of island life, The Nautilus stands as the ultimate destination for discerning travellers.
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