The Maldives has recorded 1.3 million tourist visitors for the year 2021.
The 1.3 millionth tourist visitor milestone was achieved on December 27, which also saw a new single-day record for tourist arrivals since border reopening, with 7,098 tourist arrivals. A ceremony was held at Velana International Airport to welcome the 1.3 millionth visitor, Constantin Stelian Emil, from Romania, who arrived in the Maldives via GullivAir. He was welcomed by the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) Thoyyib Mohamed, officials from the Ministry of Tourism, Maldives Immigration and Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL).
Applauding this momentous achievement, the MMPRC MD Thoyyib Mohamed noted that it is the joint effort of all tourism industry stakeholders which allowed the Maldives to ease into the new normal and achieve this and other milestones during 2021. He noted despite all the challenges, 2021 has been a great year for the Maldivian tourism sector, achieving many milestones and receiving many accolades and awards, one of which was the prestigious World Travel Awards leading destination 2021 title.
Thoyyib further stated reaching 1.3 million visitors is not a small achievement considering how volatile the global tourism situation has been throughout the year. He added this achievement was made possible by the consistent and courageous efforts of all frontline workers, the government, ministries, MMPRC, other stakeholders, NGOs and associations. He added MMPRC has many plans for the next year and will hopefully bring in even greater achievements.
Since reopening borders in July 2020, the Maldivian tourism industry has seen steady and significant progress. The government and stakeholders of the tourism industry aim to register 2 million tourist arrivals during 2022.