Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) on Wednesday, February 14, 2024 welcomed the first direct flight from Fujian Province, China to the Maldives.
A special ceremony was held at the Velana International Airport (VIA) to commemorate the arrival of China’s Xiamen Airlines, flight MF8017.
The guests who visited from the maiden Xiamen flight was greeted with a vibrant and traditional boduberu performance and were presented with a special gift pack. The event was attended by dignitaries including the Ambassador of China to the Maldives Wang Lixin, representatives of the Ministry of Tourism, Maldives Customs Service, Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) and other government enterprises and tourism associations.
The launch of another Chinese carrier to the Maldives has followed recent call out by the Maldives President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, urging China to amp up its tourist influx to the Maldives.
China remains among the strongest source markets to the Maldives, which discontinued in 2020 following the Covid-19 pandemic after which outbound travels from the country were halted. After a four year hiatus, China resumed its flight operations outward in January 2023; subsequently recommencing tourist arrivals to the Maldives.
As of the most recent statistics from the Ministry of Tourism, China remains the strongest source market to the Maldives with over 28,000 arrivals.
Furthermore, the Minister of Tourism Ibrahim Faisal said arrivals from China is expected to increase by 70% in 2024.
