The Maldives has recorded a strong start to 2026, with over 99,000 tourists visiting the country in the first two weeks of the year, reflecting continued growth in the tourism sector and positive momentum for the national economy.

Statistics released by the Ministry of Tourism show that 99,350 tourists arrived in the Maldives since the beginning of the year, representing a 9.6 per cent increase compared to the 90,659 arrivals recorded during the same period last year.

According to the data, the highest number of arrivals on a single day was recorded on January 11, when 9,596 touristsentered the country, highlighting strong international demand for Maldives as a travel destination.

The figures show that Russia remained the leading source market during the first 14 days of 2026, followed by several key European markets. The top five source countries were Russia with 16,868 tourists, Italy with 11,987, the United Kingdom with 8,159, Germany with 6,245, and China with 5,404 arrivals.

On average, 7,096 tourists arrived per day during the period, with the majority choosing to stay at resort properties across the country. Tourism officials note that the sustained growth reflects the effectiveness of continued destination promotion, improved connectivity, and stability in the tourism industry.

The latest figures build on the sector’s strong performance last year, when the Maldives welcomed a record 2.2 million tourists, reinforcing tourism’s role as a key driver of employment, government revenue and broader economic activity.