The Maldives marked a significant tourism milestone today as the two-millionth tourist of the year landed at Velana International Airport, greeted with a cultural welcome by key tourism and government agencies.
The milestone visitor, a British woman named Kersvell Dethany Sarah, arrived alongside her husband aboard Virgin Atlantic flight VS384 from London Heathrow. The flight touched down at 11:15 am. The couple is scheduled to stay at in South Ari Atoll, OUTRIGGER Maldives Maafushivaru Resort for their honeymoon.
Representatives from Visit Maldives Corporation (VMC), Ministry of Tourism and Environment, Maldives Customs Service, Maldives Immigration, and Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) joined forces at the airport to welcome the couple. A traditional Boduberu performance accompanied the greeting, and the guests received commemorative tokens as part of the celebration. Cultural-welcome ceremonies of this nature have become a hallmark of visitor-milestone arrivals, reflecting the Maldives’ commitment to hospitality and cultural pride.
Tourism data underscores the strong visitor momentum the country continues to enjoy. According to recent statements from the Ministry of Tourism, the Maldives had welcomed over 1.7 million tourists as of late October 2025, marking a 10 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024.
With this two-millionth arrival, authorities signal confidence that tourist numbers will continue to surge through the final quarter of the year. Expanded airline connectivity, growing interest from Europe, Asia and the Middle East, and persistent promotion of the Maldives as a premier island-destination are cited as key factors driving the uptick.
The successful orchestration of today’s milestone — combining formal welcome protocols, cultural display, and public-private coordination — demonstrates how the Maldives is leveraging tradition and service excellence to reinforce its global tourism appeal.
