Male’, Maldives, 27th June 2024 – In a landmark event, the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC/Visit Maldives) celebrated the arrival of the 1 millionth tourist of 2024. Sutapa Amornvivat, a Thai national, landed at Velana International Airport on AirAsia flight FD 175 at 11:15 AM. Visiting for a family holiday at Niyama Maldives, this marks her third trip to the idyllic island nation, having previously visited for her honeymoon.
To commemorate this significant achievement, Visit Maldives, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, hosted a grand event at the airport. The celebration saw participation from various government authorities including the Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), Maldives Immigration, and Maldives Customs Service, along with numerous industry stakeholders. As a special gesture, Sun Siyam Resorts offered a complimentary holiday to the millionth tourist.
“Reaching the milestone of 1 million tourist arrivals is a testament to the enduring allure of the Maldives and the unwavering dedication of our tourism industry stakeholders. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all our partners, from travel agencies to hospitality providers, whose commitment and hard work have made this achievement possible. Together, we continue to set new standards of excellence and create unforgettable experiences for our visitors,” said Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal.
February 2024 saw a record-breaking influx of tourists, with over 217,394 arrivals, highlighting the strategic efforts of MMPRC and the government to boost tourism. This milestone underscores the continuous efforts to achieve President Dr. Muizzu’s national target of 2 million tourist arrivals.
MMPRC CEO & MD Ibrahim Shiuree commented, “It is a tribute to the combined efforts of the Maldives’ tourism industry to have welcomed one million tourists earlier than the previous year. This achievement is on course to President Dr. Muizzu’s 2 million national tourist arrival target. We are thrilled to celebrate this milestone with all of our stakeholders. Our dedication doesn’t end here; we’re always working to enhance the Maldives’ travel industry and make sure Sunny Side of Life continues to be a dream destination for everyone.”
Throughout 2024, MMPRC has been vigorously promoting the Maldives across various international markets, participating in key marketing fairs and campaigns, especially in the top five markets: China, Russia, the U.K., Italy, and Germany. Notably, Visit Maldives participated in major events like ATM, ITB Berlin, and ITB China to further solidify its presence on the global tourism stage.
