Maldives Tourist Arrivals Drop 12 Percent in June as Year‑to‑Date Figures Lag Behind Last Year

The Maldives recorded 125,000 tourist arrivals in June, a 12 percent decline compared with the 143,000 visitors recorded in the same month last year, according to the Ministry of Tourism. 

The drop marks the second consecutive month of lower traffic after a modest 2 percent uptick in May.

Year‑to‑date numbers tell a similar story—roughly one million tourists have visited the island nation so far in 2026, down from 1.1 million in the same period in 2025– a 5 percent shortfall. The decline was especially pronounced in March and April, when arrivals fell 20‑24 percent, a slump the Ministry links to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which disrupted air routes and dampened travel demand from the region.

May, traditionally a low‑season month for European visitors, saw a slight rebound (2 percent) but was insufficient to offset June’s dip. The average daily arrivals for the year now stand at about 5,900, down from roughly 6,200 in the same period last year.

Despite the recent slowdown, the government remains steadfast in its ambition to attract 2.2 million tourists by year‑end. Officials say they are intensifying marketing campaigns in key Asian markets, exploring new air‑lift agreements, and promoting the Maldives as a safe, luxury escape to counterbalance the regional conflict.

The Ministry’s data also highlights the need to diversify source markets, as the reliance on a limited number of countries has left the sector vulnerable to geopolitical shocks.