The Maldives continues to captivate travelers worldwide, and new tourism data reveal a remarkable shift in visitor preferences: guesthouses on local islands are now attracting greater demand than the iconic luxury resorts the country is famed for.
According to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Tourism and Environment, as of Monday, 788,650 tourists have visited the Maldives in 2025. While resorts remain the most popular choice, hosting 70 percent of arrivals, guesthouses account for an impressive 24 percent, hotels for 3 percent, and tourist vessels for 2.5 percent.
Notably, when measured by the number of tourists per registered bed, guesthouses are now leading the sector. The data show that guesthouses host an average of 13.6 tourists per bed, compared to 12.8 tourists per bed at resorts. Hotels report 11.5 tourists per bed, while tourist vessels register 6.2.
These figures underline the growing appeal of local island guesthouses, offering tourists a more intimate, community-focused experience of Maldivian culture alongside the country’s renowned natural beauty.
The accommodation breakdown is as follows:
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Guesthouses: 13,996 beds serving 191,069 tourists (13.6 tourists per bed)
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Resorts: 43,153 beds serving 553,940 tourists (12.8 tourists per bed)
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Hotels: 2,038 beds serving 23,450 tourists (11.5 tourists per bed)
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Tourist vessels: 3,180 beds serving 19,680 tourists (6.2 tourists per bed)
Affordable pricing is one key factor behind the rising popularity of guesthouses. Listings on Booking.com show guesthouse stays starting as low as USD 40 per night, with most prices under USD 100. Resorts, traditionally associated with premium luxury, have also adapted, offering rooms starting at USD 200 per night, making them more accessible to a wider range of travelers.
Europe continues to drive a large portion of arrivals, with four of the top five tourist source markets hailing from the continent. China leads the charts with 85,469 visitors, closely followed by the United Kingdom at 84,723, Russia at 80,668, Italy at 72,000, and Germany with 61,478 arrivals.
Building on this momentum, the Ministry of Tourism has forecasted a record-breaking year, projecting 2.3 million tourist arrivals in 2025. This comes after the Maldives celebrated a historic milestone last year by welcoming over two million tourists for the first time since the nation opened its doors to global travelers in 1972. Since then, over 30 million visitors have experienced the unparalleled charm of the Maldives.
With an evolving tourism landscape offering both world-class luxury and authentic local experiences, the Maldives continues to solidify its status as a premier destination for travelers from all corners of the world.
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