11,327 tourist arrivals on December 26, 27

Tourism Ministry has announced that 11,327 tourist arrivals were recorded in Maldives on Saturday and Sunday.

According to the statistics released by Tourism Ministry, the highest single day tourist arrivals this year were recorded on Sunday, with 6,037 arrivals.

Saturday and Sunday were the busiest this year for Velana International Airport (VIA), with the influx of holiday travellers.

Statistics released by the Tourism Ministry show 83,299 tourists visited Maldives during December by Sunday.

With the high arrivals this December, 159,440 tourists have visited Maldives since it reopened its borders in July, increasing total tourist arrivals this year to 542,287.

The top source market for tourist arrivals to Maldives since it reopened its borders is Russia, which has made for 18.7 percent of tourist arrivals.

TOP SOURCE MARKETS FOR TOURIST ARRIVALS SINCE BORDER REOPENING

1. Russia: 29,788
2. India: 26,100
3. United Kingdom: 18,685
4. United States: 8,026
5. Germany: 7,665

Other emerging key source markets showing growth include the United Arab Emirates, France, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Spain.

Maldives is ending the year with the successful achievement of the revised 500,000 tourist arrivals set for the year. Tourism Minister Dr. Abdulla Mausoom has previously stated that Maldives hopes to triple the number next year and achieve 1.5 million arrivals.