Tourist arrivals to the Maldives have opened December on a strong footing, signalling a confident start to the crucial year-end peak season. According to the Ministry of Tourism’s daily update, 37,901 visitors entered the country between 1 and 6 December 2025, compared with 33,733 arrivals during the same period in 2024, reflecting a 12.4 percent increase. Daily arrivals over these six days ranged from around 5,500 to nearly 7,700, with 6 December recording the highest count so far. This performance has pushed the early-December average to 6,317 visitors per day, setting a solid pace for what is traditionally the Maldives’ busiest month of the year.
The latest figures highlight the sustained strength of the Maldives tourism industry over 2025. As of 6 December, total tourist arrivals for the year have reached 2,059,962, already surpassing the full-year total recorded in 2024. Monthly trends show year-on-year growth across most of 2025, with double-digit increases in key months such as April, June and November. The early December performance suggests that this upward trajectory is likely to carry through the festive and holiday period, when many travellers choose the Maldives for long-stay vacations and premium leisure experiences.
Resorts continue to be at the heart of the country’s tourism offering, accounting for 73.6 percent of all tourist accommodation so far this year. This dominant share reflects the enduring appeal of Maldivian resort islands, which are designed to offer privacy, exclusivity and tailored guest experiences. These properties typically combine high-end villas, overwater suites and beachfront accommodation with fine dining, wellness retreats and a wide range of recreational activities, including diving, snorkelling and marine excursions. Many resorts are also placing stronger emphasis on sustainability, marine conservation and locally inspired experiences, further enhancing their value proposition for affluent travellers and families seeking meaningful holidays.
Guesthouses, which host about 21.6 percent of arrivals, continue to complement the resort segment by offering more affordable, community-based stays across inhabited islands. However, the resort sector remains the primary driver of revenue and international visibility for the Maldives, especially during the December–January peak, when occupancy rates are traditionally high and average spending per guest tends to rise. Strong performance in resorts during this period has a direct impact on employment, supply chains and broader economic activity across the atolls.
On the demand side, China remains the top source market so far in 2025, with 316,147 arrivals, followed by Russia and the United Kingdom. This diversified market mix supports stable occupancy levels across resorts, as properties tailor their services and marketing strategies to different traveller preferences, from honeymooners and luxury seekers to families and experiential tourists. With early December arrivals already outpacing last year and overall annual numbers at a record level, resort operators are poised for a busy finish to 2025, focusing on delivering high service standards and memorable guest experiences to sustain momentum into the new year.
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