In a significant development for the Maldives tourism industry, there has been an expansion of bed capacity and a remarkable 14% increase in tourist arrivals.

Over the past month, the Ministry reported a notable uptick in the number of beds made available to tourists, with a total of 62,206 beds in operation, marking a substantial increase of 263 beds compared to the previous month.

Statistics provided by the Ministry reveal a distribution of bed operations across various atolls, with 7,075 beds in operation in Kaafu Atoll, and 3,336 beds in Alif Alif and Alif Dhaalu Atolls combined, as of last Thursday.

Furthermore, the Maldives currently boasts a total of 175 operational resorts, complemented by 843 guest houses and 15 hotels, indicating a diverse range of accommodation options available to tourists.

The surge in bed capacity has corresponded with a significant rise in tourist arrivals, with 167,175 visitors welcomed at Velana International Airport (VIA) as of the 27th of this month.

This surge has propelled the total number of tourists visiting the Maldives this year to exceed half a million, representing a remarkable 14.2% increase compared to the same period last year.

In 2023, the Maldives welcomed 1.8 million tourists, and the Ministry of Tourism has set an ambitious target of attracting 2 million visitors this year.

With the recent surge in tourist arrivals and the expansion of bed capacity, the Maldives is well on its way to achieving this goal, underscoring the resilience and appeal of the nation's tourism sector.