The Maldives has seen some recovery in tourist arrivals in May after sharper declines in March and April, according to updates shared by the Special Cabinet Committee formed to assess the impact of the conflict in the Middle East and the Gulf region.
At a press briefing held at the President’s Office, Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Mohamed Ameen said tourist arrivals had declined by 22.5 percent in March and 26.5 percent in April compared to the same periods last year. The decline has narrowed to 8.9 percent so far in May.
Minister Ameen said the improvement reflected efforts by government institutions and the tourism industry to respond to the downturn. He also pointed to the Government’s decision to acquire wide-body aircraft for Maldivian, saying the move had helped increase the country’s independent capacity to respond to disruptions in global travel.
The decline in arrivals followed wider instability in the Middle East and Gulf region, which has affected travel patterns and raised concerns for countries such as the Maldives, where tourism remains a central source of foreign exchange and economic activity.
The committee also provided updates on the fisheries sector, where fuel availability has been a key concern for fishermen. Minister of Fisheries, Agriculture and Ocean Resources Ahmed Shiyam said measures were being taken to resolve fuel shortages and enable fishermen to continue operations.
He said fuel skids had been established in every atoll as part of the Government’s pledge to improve access to fuel. However, Minister Shiyam acknowledged that the State Trading Organisation continues to face logistical difficulties in distributing fuel to the atolls. He said efforts were underway to address these challenges.
Minister Shiyam also said the Government was working on measures to reduce operational costs for fish processing companies and lower freight charges in the agricultural sector.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Iruthisham Adam said the Ministry was monitoring the conflict and tracking Maldivian citizens living in affected countries. She said diplomatic channels were also being used to engage bilateral partners and international organisations in efforts to reduce the economic impact on the Maldives.
Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises Moosa Zameer, who chairs the committee, said the Government was working to maintain an uninterrupted supply of fuel, staple foods and essential commodities. He also said expenditure control and debt management efforts had helped stabilise national debt.
The committee was formed as the Maldives faces potential exposure to external shocks from the conflict, particularly through tourism, fuel imports, food supply chains and freight costs.
