President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has announced the government's goal to double the number of tourist arrivals from China to the Maldives. He made the announcement while speaking to reporters at Velana International Airport (VIA) upon concluding his inaugural visit to China.
During his visit, Dr. Muizzu urged Chinese authorities to collaborate in establishing China as the number one tourism market for the Maldives. He also disclosed the signing of an agreement with the Chinese government aimed at increasing tourist arrivals to the Maldives.
Additionally, Dr. Muizzu detailed discussions held with the objective of increasing both the number of Chinese tourists visiting the Maldives and the frequency of flights connecting the two nations. Notably, he said that efforts were directed towards enhancing direct flight options between the Maldives and China.
Furthermore, President Dr. Muizzu revealed that China's Xiamen Airlines is set to commence flights to the Maldives in March of this year. He expressed plans to extend promotional initiatives for the Maldives within China.
A total of 284,029 tourists from China visited the Maldives in 2019, while 187,118 tourists arrived in 2023, According to Ministry of Tourism statistics. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's Chinese tourist arrivals are anticipated to match pre-pandemic levels, with a projected 40% increase compared to the previous year.