Maldives Sets Ambitious 15 Percent Growth Target for 2025 Tourist Arrivals

Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal has declared 2024 a record-breaking year for Maldivian tourism and announced an ambitious target to increase tourist arrivals by 15% in 2025.

The minister made the remarks during a ceremony at Velana International Airport, where the Maldives celebrated welcoming its two-millionth tourist for the year. The milestone visitor was an Austrian woman travelling with her husband and two children.

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In his address to reporters, Minister Faisal highlighted the year’s achievements, noting significant milestones in the country’s tourism history. “This year has been a tremendous success. February saw a record 217,000 tourist arrivals—the highest ever for a single month. Additionally, this year marked the fastest achievement of the one-millionth tourist milestone,” he stated.

The minister acknowledged challenges faced when he assumed his role, particularly a decline in the Indian market. However, he credited collaborative efforts between the Ministry of Tourism, the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), The Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO), and industry stakeholders for reversing the trend and driving growth.

Looking ahead, Minister Faisal said reaching the two-million tourist mark remains a priority for President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s administration. He expressed optimism about achieving next year’s target with continued industry-wide collaboration.

MMPRC CEO and Managing Director Ibrahim Shiury reaffirmed the corporation’s commitment to the 2024 goal, emphasising plans to diversify the Maldives’ appeal. “We aim to market the Maldives beyond its reputation as a honeymoon destination, exploring niches such as sports and educational tourism. We are currently developing strategies to promote these sectors,” he said.

The record-breaking year underscores the resilience and growth potential of the Maldives’ tourism industry as it seeks to expand its global footprint and attract a wider range of visitors.