Minister of Tourism and Environment Thoriq Ibrahim has stated that daily flight cancellations to the Maldives have been reduced, following measures taken to stabilise operations, after 525 scheduled flights were cancelled in March.

He made the remarks at a press briefing held by the Special Cabinet Committee established by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu to address challenges arising from ongoing global tensions.

The Minister said that during March, an average of 20 flights were cancelled per day. However, this figure has now been reduced to around 16 daily cancellations.

Despite the disruptions, he noted that tourists continue to travel to the Maldives through alternative routes, even as overall arrivals have declined.

The Minister also highlighted a significant increase in airline seat capacity to the Maldives, noting that several international carriers have expanded operations. These include Virgin Atlantic, Turkish Airlines, SriLankan Airlines and Singapore Airlines. As a result, total seat capacity has increased by between 65 and 70 per cent.

Tourist arrivals to the Maldives fell by 20.7 percent in March, with 165,616 visitors recorded during the month, compared to 207,707 arrivals in March last year.

On average, 5,374 tourists visited per day in March this year, compared to a daily average of 6,563 during the same period in 2025.

The Minister added that the decline in arrivals has continued into early April. During the first week of April last year, 43,316 tourists visited the Maldives, while the figure for the same period this year stands at 31,721.

He further stated that the tourism sector is currently facing challenges, with ongoing efforts to address the situation. Meetings have been held with the Guesthouse Association and the Boating Association, with authorities working closely alongside industry stakeholders.

Additionally, the Minister noted that Visit Maldives is actively carrying out promotional activities to support the tourism industry and boost arrivals.