- Maldives tourist arrivals fell 2.4 percent to 39,121 in the first week of July 2026, a moderate decline compared with June's 12.9 percent drop.
- The slowdown reflects the low season and continued travel disruption from the Middle East conflict, with cumulative yearly arrivals at 1,083,788, down from 1,148,201.
- China led source markets with 178,041 arrivals (16.4 percent), followed by Russia and the UK, while resorts accounted for 72.3 percent of tourist stays.
Maldives tourism began July under pressure, with arrivals falling in the first week of the month as the sector entered the low season while wider travel disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict continued to affect international movement.
According to the latest daily update from the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, the Maldives recorded 39,121 tourist arrivals from 1 to 7 July 2026. This represents a 2.4 percent decline from the 40,071 arrivals recorded during the same period in 2025.
The decline is relatively moderate compared with June, when arrivals fell more sharply year-on-year. Tourist arrivals in June stood at 123,552, down from 141,772 in June 2025, reflecting a 12.9 percent decrease.
July typically falls within the Maldives’ low season, when travel demand is softer compared with the peak winter months. This seasonal pattern has likely contributed to the slower start to the month, particularly as visitor numbers from long-haul markets tend to ease during this period.
The weaker performance also comes against the backdrop of continued disruption in international aviation and travel sentiment caused by the Middle East conflict. For the Maldives, which depends heavily on air connectivity and long-haul visitor flows, instability affecting key transit routes can weigh on arrivals, even when direct demand for the destination remains intact.
Daily arrivals during the first week of July averaged around 5,589. The highest daily figure was recorded on 4 July, with 6,434 arrivals, while the lowest was recorded on 6 July, with 4,955 arrivals.
Cumulative tourist arrivals for the year reached 1,083,788 as of 7 July 2026, compared with 1,148,201 during the same period last year. Total visitor arrivals, including tourists, business arrivals and cruise passengers, stood at 1,109,003, down 4.9 percent from 1,166,155 in 2025.
China remained the largest source market for the Maldives so far this year, with 178,041 arrivals and a 16.4 percent market share. Russia followed with 156,752 arrivals, accounting for 14.5 percent, while the United Kingdom ranked third with 88,832 arrivals.
Italy, Germany and India followed among the top six markets. Italy recorded 75,200 arrivals, Germany 68,910 and India 65,361, reflecting the continued importance of both European and regional markets to the Maldives tourism sector.
Resorts continued to account for the largest share of tourist stays, with 783,643 arrivals, or 72.3 percent of the total. Guesthouses recorded 250,675 arrivals, representing 23.1 percent, while hotels and tourist vessels accounted for smaller shares.
As of 7 July, the Maldives had 1,300 tourist accommodation facilities in operation, with a combined operational bed capacity of 68,084. This included 179 resorts and marinas, 932 guesthouses, 16 hotels and 173 safari vessels.
