Maldivian marked the arrival of its first scheduled flight from Shanghai, China, with a significant influx of tourists this morning. 

The flight carried 243 visitors, making it a notable milestone in the country’s tourism industry.

A special ceremony at the airport greeted the passengers, featuring traditional Maldivian cultural performances and a distribution of red roses to symbolise the warm welcome. The scheduled flights to Shanghai commenced on January 27, further strengthening travel connections between the Maldives and China.

Currently, the Maldives operates direct flights to three major Chinese cities: Chengdu, Beijing, and Shanghai. China remains the largest source of tourists to the Maldives, with over 23,000 visitors recorded this year alone.

The Government anticipates a significant boost to the tourism sector through these direct flights. Projections suggest that up to 40,000 tourists from China could visit the Maldives annually.