Maldives has welcomed its 1 millionth tourist of 2026 within the same period as last year, demonstrating the resilience of the country’s tourism industry and the effectiveness of coordinated efforts to sustain growth amid evolving global challenges.
The milestone was commemorated at a special event held at Velana International Airport, jointly hosted by Visit Maldives Corporation (VMC), the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (MOTCA), Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), and Maldives Immigration.
The 1 millionth tourist of 2026, Almudena Ortuño Esparza from Spain, arrived at Velana International Airport on June 21st, 2026 aboard Qatar Airline. This is her first visit to the Maldives, and she will spend her holidays at Vaavu Atoll Fulidhoo. Upon arrival, Ms Esparza was welcomed with a traditional cultural reception and a series of gifts from tourism stakeholders and event partners as part of a special ceremony marking the milestone. The memorable welcome celebrated both the visitor’s arrival and an important milestone for the Maldives tourism industry.
Welcoming one million tourists within the same timeframe as 2025 is a noteworthy achievement, particularly against the backdrop of geopolitical uncertainties and disruptions affecting international travel. The milestone reflects the collective efforts of the tourism industry and the continued confidence travellers around the world place in the Maldives as one of the world’s most sought-after destinations.
“Today we welcome our one millionth tourist of 2026, a milestone that is all the more significant given the pressures this sector has faced this year,” stated the Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Hon. Mohamed Ameen. “The Middle East conflict disrupted our most important air corridors and put real strain on the industry for several months. That we are here today is a reflection of the hard work and commitment of everyone in this sector, and I want to extend my sincere thanks to everyone in this industry. I am hopeful for what the rest of 2026 holds.”
Ibrahim Shiuree, CEO and Managing Director of Visit Maldives Corporation added:
“Welcoming our one millionth tourist within the same period as last year is an encouraging achievement, particularly given the disruptions affecting international travel in recent months. The Maldives tourism industry has once again demonstrated its resilience and agility. In response to the changing operating environment, we immediately intensified our marketing efforts across key source markets, particularly India, China and Russia, while continuing to diversify our outreach in emerging markets. These proactive measures, coupled with the close collaboration between stakeholders across the tourism sector, have enabled us to maintain growth momentum and reinforce the Maldives’ position as one of the world’s leading destinations. We remain confident in achieving our targets for the year and look forward to welcoming even more visitors to the Sunny Side of Life.”
The milestone also reflects a targeted response by Visit Maldives Corporation to the changing operating environment. Promotional activities were scaled up across key source markets, particularly India, China and Russia, through participation in major travel trade events including SATTE 2026, MITT 2026, ITB Berlin and ITB China. These efforts were further strengthened through joint campaigns and strategic partnerships with leading travel and aviation stakeholders, including IndiGo, MakeMyTrip, TBO, Thomas Cook, Maldiviana and Art Tour, helping to sustain destination visibility, strengthen trade engagement, and maintain demand across key markets.
As part of the ceremony, the first official invitation to visit the Maldives during Visit Maldives Year 2027 was presented to Almudena Ortuño Esparza by Hon. Mohamed Ameen, Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation. Ms Esparza was also presented with a complimentary 6 night stay at Coco Bodu Hithi, offering an opportunity to return and experience the Maldives during the landmark tourism campaign year.
As the Maldives continues its tourism growth journey, this milestone reflects the destination’s enduring appeal and the resilience of its tourism industry, reaffirming its commitment to delivering world-class experiences to travellers from around the globe.
