Cruise tourism in the Maldives has recorded a sharp increase this year, with the number of visitors arriving aboard cruise vessels nearly doubling compared with the same period in 2025.

According to the latest data from the Ministry of Tourism, 15,577 cruise passengers have entered the Maldives so far this year, up from 8,263 during the corresponding period last year.

The figures represent an approximately 87 percent increase in cruise-related arrivals.

February was the busiest month for cruise tourism, recording more than 5,000 visitors, while March followed with over 4,000 cruise passengers.

The strong performance in the cruise segment comes despite a modest decline in overall tourist arrivals.

The Maldives has recorded 1,281,360 visitors so far this year, with the country receiving an average of 5,932 tourists per day.

China remains the Maldives' largest source market, accounting for around 17 percent of total arrivals.

Russia ranks second with more than 100,000 visitors, followed by the United Kingdom with more than 99,000 arrivals.

The tourism sector faced significant disruption earlier this year amid heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Following U.S. military strikes against Iran on February 28, disruptions to major air routes through the region affected travelers using the Middle East as a transit hub.

Flight delays and cancellations, combined with rising travel costs and continued regional instability, created additional challenges for international tourism.

Despite these disruptions, the sharp growth in cruise arrivals provides a positive development for the Maldives' tourism industry as authorities seek to diversify the ways visitors reach and experience the destination.