Tourist arrivals from Australia have recorded a notable increase following the introduction of direct flights between the Maldives and Australia, according to the latest figures released by the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation.

Statistics show that 20,878 Australian visitors arrived in the Maldives as of 6 June, representing a 16 percent increase compared to the 17,957 arrivals recorded during the same period last year.

The growth comes less than a month after the launch of the Malé–Melbourne route, the first-ever direct air connection between the Maldives and Australia.

The service was introduced through a partnership between the national airline, Maldivian, and Australian travel company Luxury Escapes.

The increase in visitor numbers has elevated Australia to the ninth-largest source market for tourism to the Maldives, moving ahead of Switzerland in the rankings.

Industry observers attribute the rise largely to improved accessibility brought about by the new direct route.

Prior to its launch, travelers from Melbourne typically relied on connecting flights through major transit hubs such as Singapore, Colombo, Kuala Lumpur, or Dubai, resulting in significantly longer travel times.

The new non-stop service has reduced the journey between Melbourne and Malé to approximately 11 hours, providing a more convenient travel option for Australian holidaymakers.

Tourism stakeholders expect the direct connection to further strengthen the Maldives' presence in the Australian market by making the destination more accessible and competitive.