Tourist arrivals to the Maldives recorded a strong start in January 2026, with visitor numbers during the first half of the month exceeding the same period last year, according to the latest daily update released by the Ministry of Tourism and Environment.
As of 17 January, total arrivals for the month reached 120,680, compared to 109,501 during the same period in January 2025. This represents a growth of 10.2 percent year on year, adding more than 11,000 additional visitors within the first 17 days of the month. The figures suggest a solid opening to the year, continuing the recovery and expansion trend seen in recent tourism performance.
Russia emerged as the leading source market for January, accounting for 19,171 arrivals or 15.9 percent of total visitors. Italy followed with 13,601 arrivals, while the United Kingdom ranked third with 10,365 visitors. China placed fourth with 7,890 arrivals, showing continued momentum compared to earlier years, while Germany rounded out the top five markets with 7,498 arrivals. India ranked sixth, contributing 4,458 visitors during the period.
Resorts continued to dominate tourist accommodation in January, hosting 83,437 visitors, equivalent to just over 69 percent of total arrivals. Guesthouses accounted for 31,141 visitors or nearly 26 percent, reflecting the sustained importance of local island tourism. Hotels and safari vessels together represented a smaller share of arrivals, at just under five percent combined.
Daily arrival figures for January showed relatively stable performance, with daily averages ranging between approximately 6,000 and 8,000 visitors. Several days in the first half of the month recorded arrivals exceeding 7,500, suggesting strong post-holiday travel demand extending beyond the New Year period.
In terms of capacity, a total of 67,787 tourist beds were in operation as of mid-January, with resorts accounting for around two thirds of available beds, followed by guesthouses at roughly a quarter. The operational capacity reflects only a marginal increase compared to the same period last year, indicating that growth in arrivals during January was driven more by demand than by a significant expansion in room supply.
With more than one third of the month remaining, January’s performance points to a positive outlook for the first quarter of 2026, particularly if current arrival trends continue through the latter half of the month.
