Maldives tourism picking up despite political unrest

Tourism in the Maldives has been largely unaffected by the political unrest though there was a drop in arrivals in the months of February to May, industry sources said.

According to Mizna Shareef, State Minister for Tourism, with the exception of the German market, almost all other major markets (especially the European markets) has seen negative growth rates.

“However, our number one market, the Chinese market, although dropping in February and March, picked up from April and have been showing positive growths,” she said in comments sent to the Business Times.

According to official figures, arrivals in June were 59,379 visitors in June, a 6.1-per cent jump over the same period last year.

This was an improvement over the corresponding falls in May (-1.4 per cent), April (-0.8 per cent), March (-4.7 per cent) and February (5.3 per cent). The Maldives is aiming to reach a million arrivals this year, a target that neighbouring Sri Lanka is also chasing.

Last month, former President Mohamed Nasheed – who has been leading protest demonstrations against the ruling regime, urged a tourism boycott of the Maldives.

“I’d say to anyone who has booked a holiday to the Maldives: cancel it. And to anyone who is thinking of booking one: please don’t bankroll an illegitimate government,” he was quoted as saying in UK’s Financial Times (FT) newspaper.

However his call hasn’t affected the industry with most operators saying the industry is picking up after the initial political turmoil.