Latest figures from the Ministry of Tourism, Maldives showed a 105.1 per cent increase in the number of travellers from India who visited the island nation in the first nine months of 2019 when compared with the same period in 2018.
Maldives welcomed a total of 1,15,507 Indian visitors from January to September 2019. This represents a substantial increase when compared with the same period in 2018 that welcomed 56,319 visitors. In the month of September this year, an increase of 114.8 per cent was recorded with 11,265 Indian visitors as compared with September 2018 that welcomed 5,244 Indian visitors.
The Indian market has been one of the fastest-growing markets to the Maldives, climbing 9.2 per cent in share and ranked second in arrivals in the month of September 2019.
Commenting on the increase of tourist arrivals, managing director of Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation, Thoyyib Mohamed says, “We are very pleased to see a notable increase in the number of Indian arrivals. Various marketing campaigns and partnerships with OTAs (online travel agencies) like MakeMyTrip are being done to give an explosive marketing push to Maldives in 2019. Additionally, regular webinars are also being conducted to educate the travel agents regarding Maldives’ free visa-on-arrival for all nationalities, various resorts and attractions. With a new direct flight also commencing from December 1, between India and Maldives — we have a very positive outlook for the year-end.”
