Tourist arrivals from China and Russia have recorded strong growth this year, reinforcing their positions as the Maldives' two largest tourism source markets despite an overall decline in visitor numbers.

According to the latest figures released by the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, the Maldives welcomed 1,173,922 tourists as of July 18.

While this represents a 4.7 percent decrease compared with the same period last year, arrivals from several key markets continued to rise.

China remained the country's leading source of visitors, with 195,363 Chinese tourists traveling to the Maldives during the first half of the year.

The figure marks a 14.7 percent increase from the 170,210 arrivals recorded during the corresponding period in 2025.

Russia retained second place among the Maldives' top tourism markets.

A total of 167,314 Russian visitors arrived by July 18, up 17 percent from the 142,899 recorded during the same period last year, making Russia one of the fastest-growing major markets.

The latest figures indicate that growth from China and Russia has helped offset declines in arrivals from other countries, although total international visitor numbers remain below last year's levels.

Resorts continued to account for the largest share of tourist accommodation, hosting 834,816 visitors so far this year.

Guesthouses welcomed 262,171 tourists, while hotels accommodated 27,523 visitors.

A further 22,381 travelers stayed aboard safari vessels, reflecting the diversity of accommodation options available across the Maldives.

The Tourism Ministry continues to monitor arrival trends across international markets as the country seeks to maintain momentum in one of its most important economic sectors.