Maldives Tourist Arrivals Rebound in May as Airlines Resume Routes

The Maldives is welcoming more visitors again this month after three consecutive months of decline driven by the ongoing conflict in the Middle‑East. 

According to the Ministry of Tourism’s latest statistics, released on Thursday, 122,548 tourists arrived in the country as of Wednesday – a 2.6 percent increase over the same period last year. Most of the airlines that had suspended services to the archipelago have now reinstated schedules, helping to lift the inflow of holiday‑makers.

Despite the May uptick, the overall tally for the year to date remains lower than in 2025. From January through April, the island nation recorded 923,984 arrivals, compared with 962,242 in the same stretch of 2025– a 4 percent shortfall. The monthly trend illustrates the war’s abrupt impact as arrivals grew 5 percent year‑on‑year in January and surged 15.7 percent in February, but fell 20.7 percent in March after the conflict escalated, sharply reversing the earlier momentum.

In terms of source markets, China continues to lead, followed closely by Russia and the United Kingdom. Both China and Russia each contributed more than 100,000 visitors, while the UK supplied 79,473 tourists. India ranks sixth, with 50,747 arrivals so far this year. Of all guests, 640,988 chose resort accommodations, whereas 218,773 opted for guest‑houses, underscoring the diverse lodging preferences of the island nation.

Industry stakeholders estimate the disruption caused by the conflict has already cost the sector around USD 500 million in lost revenue. 

The Maldives Association of Tourism Operators and the Hotel and Resort Association have formally asked the government for financial assistance and stimulus measures to help the industry recover. The administration has responded that it is working to mitigate the slowdown, expanding promotional campaigns in emerging markets such as Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe and the Gulf region to attract fresh visitor streams.

Government officials say the revival of airline routes and the upcoming marketing push are expected to further narrow the gap between this year’s performance and that of 2025, helping the archipelago regain its footing as a premier global beach destination.