Velana International Airport (VIA) has crossed a major milestone this year, welcoming more than one million passengers and reaffirming its position as the primary gateway to the Maldives’ tourism industry.
According to the latest statistics released by the Ministry of Tourism, a total of 1,028,549 tourists have visited the Maldives so far this year. Of those arrivals, more than one million entered the country through Velana International Airport, accounting for 97.3 percent of all tourist arrivals recorded nationwide.
The figures highlight the central role played by VIA in supporting the country’s tourism sector, which remains the backbone of the Maldivian economy and its largest source of foreign currency earnings.
Tourism data shows that 1,000,134 visitors arrived through Velana International Airport, while Gan International Airport recorded the second-highest number of arrivals with 4,057 visitors.
Maafaru International Airport welcomed 3,525 tourists during the same period, followed by Hanimaadhoo International Airport with 2,304 arrivals and Villa International Airport in Maamigili with 1,858 arrivals. Dhaalu Airport recorded 825 tourist arrivals.
The Maldives is currently receiving an average of 5,980 tourists per day, reflecting sustained demand for the destination despite increasing competition from regional tourism markets.
China continues to dominate as the Maldives’ largest tourism source market, contributing 160,811 visitors so far this year. Russia ranks second with 143,161 arrivals, while the United Kingdom remains in third place with 84,545 visitors.
Italy and Germany complete the top five source markets, contributing 72,561 and 65,504 tourists respectively.
Accommodation statistics show that resorts remain the preferred choice for most travelers visiting the Maldives. According to the Ministry’s figures, 721,260 tourists stayed at resorts across the country.
Guesthouses accounted for the second-largest share of tourist accommodation, hosting 237,168 visitors. Meanwhile, 24,816 tourists stayed in hotels, while another 20,922 chose safari vessels and liveaboards for their holiday experience.
The latest figures come shortly after the Maldives officially welcomed its one millionth tourist of the year, a milestone celebrated by tourism authorities and industry stakeholders at Velana International Airport.
Officials have expressed confidence that tourist arrivals will continue to rise during the second half of the year as the country enters its peak travel season and benefits from increased international connectivity.
With major expansion projects continuing at Velana International Airport, authorities expect the country’s main gateway to play an even greater role in supporting future growth within the tourism and aviation sectors.
