The Maldives has recorded over 600,000 tourist arrivals so far this year, with 69 per cent choosing to stay at resorts, according to official statistics.

Data released by the Ministry of Tourism and Environment indicates that 203,464 tourists visited in March 2025, reflecting a 4.7 per cent increase compared to the 194,227 arrivals in March of the previous year. On average, the Maldives welcomed 6,563 visitors per day during the month.

In total, 632,418 tourists visited the country during the first quarter of the year, marking a 4.7 per cent rise from the 604,004 recorded in the same period last year. The largest number of visitors came from China, with 73,997 arrivals, making it the top source market. Russia followed with 66,933 tourists, while the United Kingdom ranked third with 65,404 visitors.

A breakdown of accommodation preferences among tourists shows that 437,942 visitors opted to stay in resorts, accounting for 69.2 per cent of the total arrivals. Guesthouses were the second most popular choice, accommodating 159,695 tourists, which represents 25.3 per cent of visitors. Meanwhile, 18,404 tourists stayed in hotels, while 15,933 chose safari boats for their holiday experience.

During this period, 62,763 beds were in operation across various types of accommodation. This included 43,217 beds available in 175 resorts, 2,038 beds in 15 hotels, 14,364 beds across 838 guesthouses, and 3,144 beds on 157 safari vessels.

Last year, the Maldives welcomed two million tourists, and the Government has set a target of 2.3 million arrivals for 2025. To achieve this goal, authorities have been implementing various promotional campaigns to attract more visitors. As part of these efforts, a special tourism event was launched in collaboration with British football club Liverpool.

Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) has also indicated plans to boost visitor numbers during the traditionally low travel season, with additional initiatives aimed at sustaining tourist interest throughout the year.