Following a lengthy drop in tourist visits caused by the conflict in the Middle East starting in February, the Maldives saw a two percent rise in arrivals.

The geopolitical strains in the area, which escalated after the attacks executed by the United States and Israel on Iran on February 28, remain ongoing. The conflict led to the shutting down of various Middle Eastern airspaces, compelling numerous airlines to halt their operations.

The interruption of major Middle Eastern flight paths, deemed essential for trips to the Maldives, led to a decrease in tourist visits during the last three months. The most recent statistics released by the Tourism Ministry on Thursday show an encouraging trend, as arrivals are starting to bounce back.

As per data from the Ministry, tourist arrivals in May have totaled 122,548 as of last Wednesday, indicating a 2.6 percent rise compared to the corresponding period last year.

Even with the monthly rise, the overall count of tourists arriving in the Maldives this year is still four percent below the numbers noted for the same timeframe last year. So far, the Maldives has hosted 923,984 visitors, in contrast to 962,242 arrivals in the equivalent timeframe last year.

The year started off well, with a five percent increase in arrivals in January, followed by a 15.7 percent growth in February. Nonetheless, the beginning of the conflict resulted in a significant decline, as arrivals dropped by 20.7 percent in March and decreased further by 24.4 percent in April.

This year, China, Russia, and the United Kingdom remain the top source markets for tourism in the Maldives, consistent with earlier patterns. China and Russia have both sent over 100,000 tourists, whereas visitors from the United Kingdom currently total 79,473.