The Maldives recorded a new monthly high for tourist arrivals in January, marking the strongest monthly performance for the tourism sector to date. 

The Ministry of Tourism and Environment reported that a total of 224,788 tourists visited the Maldives in January 2026, surpassing the previous monthly record of 224,455 arrivals recorded in December 2025. The figures represent an increase of 4.6 per cent compared to the corresponding period in the previous year, marking what authorities described as a strong start to the year for the tourism sector.

Minister of Tourism and Environment Thoriq Ibrahim said the record figures reflect a promising outlook for the industry, noting that the growth was the result of coordinated efforts across the tourism sector. He said the continued increase in arrivals demonstrates the impact of Government policies aimed at strengthening the industry and expanding its benefits across the country.

According to the ministry, the highest number of tourist arrivals in a single day was on 11 January with 9,596 passengers, with the daily average for the month standing at 7,251 arrivals. Statistics also show that Russia remained the largest source market for the Maldives during the month, followed by Italy and China. A total of 29,370 tourists arrived from Russia, 23,171 from Italy, and 22,676 from China, with arrivals from China continuing to show steady growth.

Arrival data further indicated that the majority of visitors entered the country through Velana International Airport, which recorded 221,994 arrivals so far this year. The ministry also reported arrivals through other international gateways, including Maafaru International Airport and Gan International Airport.

The record monthly performance follows a strong year for the tourism industry in 2025, during which the Maldives welcomed more than 2.2 million tourists.