The flow of tourists from Russia to the Maldives in March 2022 fell by 2,2 times compared to February. However, already in April, there was a clear trend towards the return of wealthy Russians to their usual vacation. Tour operators record a bright - 80-300% - growth of sales of tours to the Maldives. The reasons are the stabilization of the exchange rate, clarity of the situation with flights and payments.
Sales of tours to the Maldives in January and February were smooth and successful. So, in February 2022, the Russian tourist flow to the Maldives amounted to 20 082 trips. In general, in February 2022, 1,8% more Russians came to the Maldives than in the same month of 2021 (19 724).
In early March, due to the suspension of direct air transportation, tour operators recorded a decline in the flow of tourists to the Maldives up to 8 times compared to early February - sales almost stagnated. The reduction of tour sales for companies was up to 85-90%.
But already from the second half of March, demand for the Maldives began to slowly recover: tourists choose connecting flights of foreign airlines - Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, flydubai, etc.
According to the results of March, only 8 806 tourists from Russia arrived in the Maldives. This is 56,15% (or 2,2 times) less than in February. Russia occupied the 7-th place in the ranking of the key source markets for the Maldives.
According to the results of the first two weeks of April, the leading players of the destination - such as Coral Travel, Intourist, Russian Express, Ambotis Holidays, Pac Group, Space Travel, Pax, Bsi Group, Club Med, etc. - record a very significant increase of sales of tours to the Maldives. For the majority, it is 2-3 times more (from 80 to 300%) compared to the second half of March.
At the same time, all interviewed companies emphasize that Maldivian demand has become almost exclusively “five-star”. Economical Maldives 3* and 4* are no longer in trend, tours are sold almost only in good 5* and 5* Deluxe hotels.
