According to the Tourism Ministry, daily tourist arrivals in the Maldives have dropped by approximately 50 percent because of the rising conflict in the Middle East.

Numerous significant airports in the area have been shut down temporarily after Israel's assault on Iran, resulting in extensive flight cancellations. Numerous flights affected were set to reach the Maldives.

Data from the Tourism Ministry indicates that 8,929 visitors came on Saturday, February 28, then 6,440 on Sunday, and 4,107 on Monday, marking a significant drop compared to recent weeks. On February 15, the Maldives noted 11,136 visitors in just one day, marking one of the peak totals in recent months.

The ministry highlighted that approximately 35 percent of daily visitors come from the Middle East, indicating that any disturbances in that area directly and swiftly affect tourism and revenue in the Maldives.

Flight schedules started to change notably from last Sunday, resulting in 14 cancellations on that day.

Concerns have been raised by industry stakeholders regarding the economic consequences. The Chief Executive Officer of Inner Maldives, one of the biggest travel firms in the nation, stated that addressing the situation calls for strong collaboration among government bodies, tourism businesses, and the community to lessen the effects on the industry.

Tourism continues to be the foundation of the Maldivian economy, and extended interruptions could lead to significant repercussions, industry experts caution.