The Maldives’ tourism sector recorded a 2.2 per cent increase last week, with 35,653 tourists visiting the country, according to Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Mohamed Ameen.

Speaking at a press briefing at the President’s Office, minister Ameen said a total of 740,364 tourists have arrived so far this year, with daily arrivals averaging 6,885. He noted that while daily arrivals have declined by 3.2 per cent compared to last year, recent weekly figures indicate a recovery trend.

China remains the top source market with 108,656 arrivals, followed by Russia with over 92,000 tourists. The United Kingdom and Italy recorded more than 69,000 and 62,000 arrivals respectively, with Germany, India and France also among key markets.

Minister Ameen said flight disruptions seen earlier due to tensions in the Middle East have eased, with cancellations initially reaching around 20 flights before declining. Several airlines, including Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways, have resumed operations, while Air Arabia and Flydubai have also restarted services. Frequencies of Aeroflot and Turkish Airlines have increased.

The minister also highlighted growth in high-end tourism, with 189 private jets arriving in March compared to 84 in the same month last year, an increase of 125 per cent. In April, arrivals rose to 93 jets from 64, marking a 45.3 per cent increase.

Additionally, Australia has entered the top 10 source markets, supported by the launch of flights by Maldivian Airlines, with the overall growth as a result of continued efforts to promote the Maldives.