Maldives tourism arrivals exceeded 1.17 million by mid-July 2026, with China and Russia ranking as the destination’s largest international source markets.
Maldives tourism arrivals exceeded 1.17 million visitors by 18 July 2026, with China and Russia maintaining their position as the two largest source markets for the Indian Ocean destination.
According to official data from the Maldives Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, the country welcomed 1,173,922 international tourists during the period. Although overall arrivals were 4.7% lower compared with the same period in 2025, the two leading markets recorded significant year-on-year growth.
China and Russia strengthen their position in the Maldives market
China ranked as the largest source market for the Maldives, with 195,363 arrivals recorded until 18 July 2026. The figure represents a 14.7% increase over the 170,210 Chinese visitors recorded during the same period the previous year.
Russia ranked second, contributing 167,314 visitors to the destination. Russian arrivals increased by 17% compared with 142,899 visitors in 2025, reflecting continued demand from the market.
Together, China and Russia remained the leading international visitor markets for the Maldives, supporting the destination’s tourism performance during the first seven months of 2026.
Resorts remain the dominant accommodation choice
Resorts remained the preferred accommodation option among international visitors to the Maldives. During the period, resorts hosted 834,816 tourists, accounting for the majority of visitor stays.
Guesthouses represented the second most popular accommodation category, welcoming 262,171 travellers. Hotels recorded 27,523 visitors, while 22,381 travellers chose liveaboard vessels for their stay in the destination.
Hotels & Accommodations
The accommodation figures highlight the continued importance of the Maldives’ resort sector, which remains the core component of the country’s tourism offering.
Velana International Airport handles the majority of arrivals
The majority of international visitors entered the Maldives through Velana International Airport in Malé. The country’s main international gateway handled 1,144,392 arrivals during the reporting period.
Gan International Airport recorded 4,355 visitor arrivals, while the remaining traffic was distributed through other entry points.
Based on the total number of arrivals recorded until 18 July 2026, the Maldives welcomed an average of more than 5,899 tourists per day during the period.