Three in four tourists visiting Maldives choose resorts for their stay

  • Maldives
  • Travel
PUBLISHED 04 August 2026

Resort properties remain the leading segment of the Maldives tourism industry, hosting almost seventy-five percent of all visitors to the nation this year, based on the most recent data from the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation.


The Maldives has seen approximately 1.2 million tourist arrivals so far, with 902,228 guests opting for resort accommodations.


The statistic represents about 73 percent of overall arrivals, emphasizing the ongoing prevalence of the nation’s resort-focused tourism approach.


The Maldives has 179 active resorts, which collectively account for approximately 67 percent of the nation's total tourist bed capacity.


Local guesthouses placed second in accommodation options, attracting 277,894 tourists throughout that period.


Hotels had 29,401 guests, whereas 23,503 tourists resided on safari boats.


Recent statistics indicate that the Maldives is currently attracting an average of 5,924 visitors daily, highlighting the ongoing significance of tourism to the nation’s economy.


In July, there was a significant rise in tourist arrivals, with a total of 184,735 visitors documented for the month.


The July total indicates a 46 percent rise compared to the tourist count logged in June.


Nevertheless, arrivals remained 1.9 percent below the total logged in July of the previous year.


Although there is a yearly decrease, the significant monthly rise suggests a rebound in visitor numbers during the height of the summer travel season.



As resorts remain the primary choice for most tourist stays, the recent statistics highlight their key position in the Maldives’ tourism sector, while guesthouses and alternative lodging options continue to cater to a noteworthy portion of foreign travelers.