Tourist arrivals to the Maldives have exceeded 250,000 according to the latest updates from the Ministry of Tourism.
The state body in their most recent statistical update revealed that the total number of tourist arrivals as of 23rd February 2022 reached 251,339, indicating an annual 46.9% increment in comparison with 2021.
Statistics further conveyed that the total number of tourist arrivals for the same period in 2021 reached just a total of 171,091.
Meanwhile, the tourist daily arrival average lifted from 4,250 in January to 5,199 in February while the annual average is currently at 4,654. On the other hand, the average duration of stay in annual terms has dropped to 8.8 days.
Despite the ongoing geopolitical struggle and the ensuing war between Russia and Ukraine, the former continues to remain as the top source market to the Maldives. According to statistics, the Maldives has welcomed a total of 39,660 tourists from Russia so far which is a market share of 15.8%.
The United Kingdom is currently the second strongest source market, with 28,569 annual arrivals taking up a market share of 11.4% while India is ranked third with 22,138 annual arrivals with a market share of 8.8%.
Moreover, Ukraine is the eighth strongest source market to the Maldives with 7,818 arrivals so far in 2022.
Earlier, it was reported by the Ministry of Tourism that some 750 to 800 Ukrainian travelers were holidaying in the Maldives when Russian President Vladimir Putin declared the invasion of Ukraine.
Meanwhile, several Ukrainian, as well as Russian travelers, have become stranded in the Maldives amid ongoing war while the government of Maldives has stepped up to assist the unfortunate tourists by providing them safer passage to other neighboring countries or cheaper accommodation options.
In addition to this, the government of Maldives declared that the possibility of visa extension for Ukrainian travelers was made available and subsequently the extension of their stays.
On 01st March, it was reported that some Russian billionaires have anchored their yachts at Maldivian waters, with most of these being US-sanctioned business magnates and oligarchs.