Maldives Tourist Arrivals Down 43% in Early March as Airline Disruptions Continue

Tourism arrivals to Maldives remain sharply lower in early March, with new data showing a continued decline in daily visitor numbers as airline disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict affect global connectivity.

Updated figures from the Ministry of Tourism Maldives show that 49,962 tourists arrived between 1st - 10th March 2026, averaging 4,996 arrivals per day.

For comparison, February recorded 247,722 visitors over 28 days, which equals a daily average of 8,847 arrivals. This means that average daily arrivals in early March are currently 43.5% lower than February’s average.

Daily arrivals so far in March:

• 1 March: 6,440

• 2 March: 4,107

• 3 March: 4,988

• 4 March: 4,949

• 5 March: 4,734

• 6 March: 4,452

• 7 March: 5,238

• 8 March: 5,866

• 9 March: 4,225

• 10 March: 4,963

While weekend arrivals showed slight improvement on 7th - 8th  March, overall numbers remain significantly below normal levels.

If February’s arrival trend had continued, the Maldives would have expected around 88,470 visitors during the first ten days of March. Instead, only 49,962 tourists arrived, leaving a shortfall of 38,508 visitors compared with the previous monthly trend.

The downturn coincides with widespread airline operational disruptions following escalating tensions in the Middle East, which have led to airspace restrictions and route adjustments across key Gulf transit corridors.

Major regional carriers including Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, flydubai & Air Arabia have suspended or reduced operations to Male’ as they adjust routes and schedules in response to the evolving situation.

These airlines normally provide a large portion of the Maldives’ international connectivity, particularly for travellers coming from Europe and the Middle East via Gulf hub airports.

With arrivals currently averaging about 5,000 visitors per day, the Maldives tourism sector may face pressure on resort occupancy, guesthouse bookings, and short-term revenue expectations if the disruptions continue.

If current patterns persist through the remainder of the month, March could see one of the steepest short-term drops in arrivals since the tourism recovery period following the pandemic.