Resort properties continue to dominate the Maldives tourism sector, accommodating nearly three-quarters of all tourists who have visited the country so far this year, according to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation.

The Maldives has recorded around 1.2 million tourist arrivals to date, with 902,228 visitors choosing to stay at resorts.

The figure accounts for approximately 73 percent of total arrivals, highlighting the continued dominance of the country’s resort-based tourism model.

The Maldives currently has 179 operational resorts, which together represent about 67 percent of the country’s total operational tourist bed capacity.

Local guesthouses ranked second among accommodation choices, receiving 277,894 tourists during the same period.

Hotels recorded 29,401 visitors, while 23,503 tourists stayed aboard safari vessels.

The latest figures also show that the Maldives is currently receiving an average of 5,924 tourists per day, underscoring the continued importance of tourism to the country’s economy.

Tourist arrivals increased substantially in July, with 184,735 visitors recorded during the month.

The July figure represents a 46 percent increase compared with the number of tourists recorded in June.

However, arrivals were still 1.9 percent lower than the total recorded during July last year.

Despite the year-on-year decline, the strong month-on-month increase indicates a recovery in visitor numbers during the peak summer travel period.

With resorts continuing to account for the majority of tourist stays, the latest figures reinforce their central role in the Maldives’ tourism industry, while guesthouses and other accommodation options continue to serve a significant share of international visitors.