The government of Maldives aims to host 2.1 million tourists annually from 2021.
Delivering his presidential address at the parliament on Monday, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said the government had been successful in reaching its target of hosting 1.5 million tourists in 2019. While over 1.7 million tourists visited the Maldives last year, this is a 14.7 percent increase compared to the previous year, noted the president.
The president announced that the government aims to host 2.15 million tourists by the end of 2021, and said he hopes to establish annual tourist arrivals at 2.5 million for the remainder of his term.
"By the end of last year, tourists visiting the Maldives holidayed at 158 resorts, 607 guest houses, 12 tourist hotels and 156 liveaboards. This is 50591 beds in total. During the current year, 13 new resorts and 74 guesthouses are scheduled to be opened, which will add 1300 additional tourist beds," said the president.
The president noted that while 13287 bookings had been cancelled due to the fast-spreading coronavirus pandemic, the government will undertake extra efforts to market Maldivian tourism in order to minimize the loss and increase tourist arrivals.
