MALDIVES TO CELEBRATE 50 YEARS OF TOURISM WITH INCREASE IN VISITORS IN 2022

The Maldives is predicted to welcome a record number of visitors this year, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of tourism in the country.

Last year, the Maldives showed a spectacular recovery in tourist arrivals. By the end of December, the country had passed the million international travellers’ mark. Official statistics show that 1.32 million international tourists, including 0.77 million of Europeans, visited the Maldives in 2021. In comparison to 2019 figures – the last “normal” year for tourism – the Maldives welcomed 1.7 million international travellers. In 2020, total arrivals to the Maldives dropped by 67.5% to 0.55 million.

The Maldives confirms further recovery in 2022

The Maldives Ministry of Tourism recently confirmed that the South Asian archipelago had already seen an increase of 45% in visitors so far in 2022. According to the authority, a total of 248,000 tourists had arrived in the island nation by February 23. In the first two months of 2021, the Maldives recorded less than 190,000 international tourist arrivals. It is estimated that over 275,000 international travellers will have been in the country by the end of February 2022.

These positive visitor numbers coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Maldivian tourism industry. Several activities and events have been planned to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the Maldivian tourism industry – details of which can be found on the Maldives tourism official website. Marketing campaigns to mark the anniversary are also planned throughout the year and a logo was also launched last year.

From just a couple of resorts in 1972, 50 years on and the country now has over 115 luxury resorts offering 38,386 beds and 19,126 rooms.