Ministry of Tourism has revealed tourists visiting the Maldives this year have been staying for an average of 23 days.
Statistics of the tourism ministry revealed the average number of days spent by tourists has increased this year, compared to 2019. As such, tourists have been staying for an average of 23 days this year, which is 16.7 days higher than the average for 2019.
However, the tourism ministry noted bed nights have decreased 60.2% this year, as compared to 2019. Bed nights represent the bookings made in tourist facilities as compared to the number of beds available.
The tourism ministry revealed 402,089 tourists have visited the Maldives this year by the end of August, which is 65.1% lower than the figure recorded during the same period last year. 392,176 tourists had arrived by air, while a further 9,931 tourists arrived by sea. The higher number of tourist arrivals were recorded from Italy, with 45,169 tourists.
Maldives reopened its borders for tourist operations on July 15, more than three months after borders were closed due to COVID-19. The tourism ministry and Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMRPC) have been conducting several marketing and promotional activities to encourage tourist arrivals and revive the tourism industry which has been hit hard by the pandemic.