More than 300,000 tourists have chosen guesthouses as their preferred accommodation during their stay in the Maldives so far this year, highlighting the growing appeal of local island tourism across the archipelago. According to the latest data from the Ministry of Tourism and Environment, the country has recorded 1.4 million tourist arrivals as of now, representing a 9.1 percent increase compared to the 1.3 million arrivals during the same period last year.
Resort tourism continues to lead the sector with over one million tourists opting for luxurious island getaways. However, guesthouses have secured a strong second position, having hosted 309,490 visitors to date. Tourist hotels welcomed 37,282 guests, while 29,018 tourists explored the Maldives via safari vessels.
Rise in Local Island Tourism
The steady rise in guesthouse tourism reflects the success of government-led initiatives to promote more inclusive tourism development, allowing travellers to experience authentic island life. Currently, there are 891 licensed guesthouses operating across 20 atolls in the Maldives. Together, these guesthouses offer a bed capacity of 15,284, accounting for 24 percent of the total beds available in the national tourism sector.
This shift is part of a broader strategy to diversify tourism offerings beyond high-end resorts, ensuring that the economic benefits of the industry are shared more equitably across communities. By encouraging the expansion of local guesthouses, the Maldives is supporting small business growth and enhancing cultural exchanges between visitors and local residents.
Record-Breaking Year in Tourism
The Maldives achieved a historic tourism milestone in 2024, recording a total of 2,047,435 tourist arrivals—the highest number in the country’s 52-year tourism history. This marked the first time the island nation surpassed the two million mark in a calendar year, showing a nine percent increase from the 1,878,543 arrivals registered in 2023.
In line with its ambitious growth targets, the government is now working to attract 2.3 million tourists in 2025. Strategic efforts include expanding market outreach, improving accessibility through infrastructure and air connectivity, and enhancing visitor experience across all segments of the tourism ecosystem.
Key Tourist Markets
The Maldives continues to attract travellers from across the globe, with the top five source markets in 2025 being:
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China: 218,268 tourists
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Russia: 168,288 tourists
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United Kingdom: 129,792 tourists
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Italy: 102,053 tourists
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Germany: 97,534 tourists
These figures underscore the Maldives’ enduring global appeal as a premier travel destination, offering everything from overwater villas and pristine beaches to immersive cultural experiences on inhabited islands.
Looking Ahead
With consistent growth in both international arrivals and domestic tourism offerings, the Maldives remains firmly positioned as a world-class destination. The expanding guesthouse sector, paired with sustained demand for luxury resorts, paints a dynamic picture of a tourism industry evolving to meet diverse traveler preferences while contributing to broader national development goals.
As the country continues to refine its tourism strategy, visitors can look forward to more options, better infrastructure, and enriched experiences that go beyond the postcard-perfect beaches—making every visit to the Maldives a truly memorable journey.
