Ninety five thousand one hundred and fourteen (95,114) tourists arrived in the Maldives in September, indicating a 3.1 per cent growth year-on-year (Y-o-Y) compared to September last year, while declining by 8.5 per cent compared to August, and the arrivals for year so far stood at 901,004; a 10.1 per cent rise Y-o-Y.
Regionally, Asia Pacific constituted 56.2 per cent of the travellers with a 4.5 per cent increase Y-o-Y for September and 17.3 per cent increase Y-o-Y for the nine months, Europe 36.9 per cent with a 1.5 per cent decrease and 1.6 per cent increase, the Americas 3.1 per cent with a 25.2 per cent increase and 26.7 per cent increase, and the Middle East 3 per cent with a 20.5 per cent increase and 16.9 per cent increase respectively. China was the biggest market with 36.2 per cent which showed a 1.7 per cent decrease Y-o-Y for September while showing a 14.8 per cent increase Y-o-Y for the first 9 months, Germany followed with 8.6 per cent, which was a 0.2 per cent growth Y-o-Y for September and the UK trailed the major markets with a 7.4 per cent share.
Arrivals from Sri Lanka were recorded at 1,413 signifying a 58.1 per cent increase Y-o-Y for the month.
The average duration of stay decreased by 0.2 to 6.1 days Y-o-Y for the first nine months while the total occupancy slightly improved, with a 1.6 per cent increase to 74.6 per cent Y-o-Y for the same duration.
Meanwhile Sri Lanka attracted 105,535 visitors with a growth rate of 16.8 per cent Y-o-Y for September and a 24.8 per cent decrease compared to August while 1.1 million tourists arrived up to September; a 22.4 per cent growth Y-o-Y.
(CW)
Sri Lanka Travel Feneteko