The authorities of the Maldives want to abandon the image of a destination suitable only for expensive beach tourism and offer guests new types of tourism on the archipelago.

Russian travelers made 14 million trips in 2023 ( with the exception of post-Soviet countries).

Compared to December, February shows a sharp increase in the share of tour sales to the UAE. The share of Egypt is growing, the share of sales of Russia and Thailand is stable.

In 2023, the tourist flow will be 4% higher than in 2022, but the historical record of 2021 will not be surpassed. Russia will most likely retain its first place in the list of entry markets for the Maldives at the end of the year.

Despite a slight decrease in the number of arrivals for the autumn of this year, Russia continues to be the number 1 of source markets for the Maldives. 174 663 tourists from Russia were recorded in the Maldives at the end of 10 months of 2023 - this is 6,3% more than for the same period in 2022 (164 363).

Tour operators announced unexpected news: in the winter season 2023/2024, many hotels in the Maldives have made seasonal special offers for the New Year, which is very rare event, and this will lead to falling in price by 40% of some New Year tours to the Maldives.

Over the three quarters of 2023, the outbound flow from Russia amounted to 21 020 012 people, which is 12,4% higher compared to the same period in 2022.

Coral Travel this winter season will operate flights to Egypt, the UAE, Thailand, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Cuba and Turkey (Antalya) from a total of 16 Russian cities.

12 735 Russians came to the Maldives in September. This is 37% less than in September 2022, when 20 341 visits by Russians were registered in this island state. The trend towards a reduction of the Russian tourist flow to the Maldives began in the summer.

Since June, Maldives border statistics has recorded a decline of the volume of Russian tourist traffic compared to last year. In August, the number of arrivals of Russians decreased by almost 20%.

The tour operator Anex has announced seven charter destinations for the upcoming winter season. This winter direct charters of Anex will fly to Egypt, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Cuba and Turkey.

The demand for tours to the Maldives in August is 20% higher than in June and July, despite the weakening ruble. If this trend continues, more than 50 000 Russians may visit the islands over the summer, and August statistics may catch up with last year's figures.

The tour operator Space Travel notes a decrease of prices for tours to the Maldives compared to last winter. Compared to last winter, a decrease of the prices of tours to the Maldives is by an average of 30%.

More than 100 thousand Russian tourists have visited the Maldives since the beginning of the year. Russia is the second in terms of tourist flow for this period among foreign countries.

According to the results of May 2023, 12,2 thousand tourist arrivals from Russia were recorded in the Maldives. This means that Russia has dropped from the 1st to the 3rd place in terms of the number of tourists on the resort. Nowadays, India and China are the tourist leaders.

A multiple change in the demand of tourists for the summer was recorded by Russian tour operators. While prices are rising in Turkey, previously more expensive destinations, such as Thailand, Sri Lanka and even the Maldives, are beginning to “equal” with this destination. And Turkey continues to lose its positions due to inflated prices and problems with air transportation.

The price for the summer beach "luxury" resort, popular among Russian tourists, fell. Discounts reach up to 60%. The traditional reduction of contract rates in Maldivian hotels during the low summer season lasts from May 1 to October 30.

Instead of Turkey, Russian tourists can go to the UAE, Thailand and even the Maldives - prices for hotels there in summer are even cheaper than Turkish ones.

Russia in 2023 has become the leading market for the Maldives. Since the beginning of the year, over 53 000 Russians have arrived here. The country plans to accept 1,8 million tourists this year, of which 12-13% may be Russian ones.

Spring Maldives are in good demand among Russians. The destination is now in the TOP-5 most demanded countries. A lot of applications are now coming and for summer season.

Russia continues to be the leading source market for the Maldives with a market share of 13,1% - 28 873 arrivals in January and 1 week in February. Most tour operators this year note an increased interest for the Maldivian destination and an increase of the diversity of air transportation.

In 2022 the tourist flow from the Russian Federation to the Maldives was 8,38% less than in the record year 2021. The Maldives has in practice entered the category of mass destinations, surpassing the results of pre-Covid 2019 by 142%.

This year, 1,5 million tourists have holidays with the tour operator Fun&Sun. By the end of 2023, the company plans to send 2,5 million tourists.

The Russians have taken the second place in terms of the total tourist flow to the Maldives since the beginning of the year. The first position was taken by Indian tourists.

The launch of the Azur air charter program to the Maldives has allowed tour operators to reduce prices for tour packages,