Tourist arrivals to the Maldives in March 2025 reached a record 203,464, continuing the upward trend in absolute numbers. Yet, a closer look reveals that the pace of growth is beginning to taper off, suggesting the post-pandemic tourism rebound may be settling into more stable territory.
The year-on-year increase for March stands at 4.8 percent—healthy by most standards, but significantly lower than the 11.9 percent recorded between March 2023 and 2024. This slowdown is particularly notable given the context: 2023 marked the tail end of the global travel surge that followed pandemic-era restrictions. With borders open and pent-up demand peaking, countries like the Maldives saw double-digit growth figures that were never likely to last indefinitely.
In that sense, the deceleration is less a sign of decline and more a return to normalcy. March 2022, by contrast, brought in 150,748 visitors, meaning the country has added over 50,000 March arrivals in just three years. But while the raw numbers continue to climb, the growth curve is flattening.
The total for the first quarter of 2025—632,418 arrivals—is also a record. Yet the year-on-year growth for Q1 now sits at 4.7 percent, down from 15.3 percent the previous year. This trend suggests that while demand remains strong, the Maldives is moving past the exceptional figures triggered by global reopening.
Market-wise, China continues to lead arrivals, followed closely by Russia and the UK, reaffirming a shift back toward pre-pandemic patterns. Resorts continue to dominate, with 69 percent of tourists opting for high-end island stays, while guesthouses account for roughly a quarter of all visitors.
The coming months will indicate whether this levelling off represents a plateau or a brief pause before further growth. Either way, the Maldives appears to be transitioning from pandemic-fuelled peaks to a more measured phase of tourism development.
