Tourist arrivals to the Maldives rose sharply in the first week of October 2025, recording a 21.8 percent increase compared to the same period last year, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Tourism and Environment.
Between 1 and 7 October, a total of 42,799 tourists arrived in the country, up from 35,144 in the same period of 2024. The increase marks one of the strongest starts to October in recent years and signals a promising beginning to the final quarter of the year, which typically sees an upswing in tourist traffic ahead of the winter season.
As of 7 October, total arrivals for 2025 reached 1,679,288, representing a 10 percent year-on-year increase. The daily average stood at nearly 6,000 arrivals, underscoring consistent performance across the industry.
China remained the leading source market with 276,343 arrivals, making up 16.5 percent of total visitors. Russia followed with 205,432 arrivals, while the United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy rounded out the top five. India remained the sixth largest market, contributing 97,171 visitors so far this year.
Resorts continued to dominate the sector, accounting for 73.6 percent of all tourist stays, while guesthouses made up 21.7 percent, reflecting the sustained growth of local island tourism.
The country’s total operational bed capacity stood at 64,788 across 1,280 registered tourist facilities, including 174 resorts, 16 hotels, 927 guesthouses, and 163 safari vessels.
The strong start to October comes on the back of steady growth throughout 2025, with every month since April showing year-on-year increases. Industry observers expect the momentum to continue into November and December, traditionally the peak months for Maldivian tourism.
