DTIS, Volume I - Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF)

Table 3.9: Flow Of Tourists By Nationality, 2001 – 2004
No. of Tourists Share %
Growth
%
Country of Nationality 2001 2002 2003 2004 2001 2004 2001-04
Total 460,984 484,680 563,593 616,716 100 100 34
Europe 364,105 373,428 443,093 475,707 79 77 31
Italy 115,740 114,955 140,304 140,304 25 23 21
United Kingdom 77,151 80,377 93,989 113,991 17 18 48
Germany 66,149 63,212 70,762 70,762 14 11 7
France 30,542 31,228 41,055 41,055 7 7 34
Switzerland 28,313 31,707 30,787 29,252 6 5 3
Russia 3,983 7,550 12,108 18,075 1 3 354
Other Countries 42,227 44,399 54,088 62,268 9 10 47
Asia 80,825 94,986 101,806 117,008 18 19 45
China/Taiwan/Hong Kong 7,343 12,400 15,021 20,599 2 3 181
India 8,511 11,377 11,502 11,502 2 2 35
Japan 41,895 43,705 42,081 46,939 9 8 12
Korea 6,708 7,696 8,416 9,672 1 2 44
Singapore 2,227 2,520 4,653 4,653 0 1 109
Sri Lanka 6,902 6,909 7,296 7,296 1 1 6
Thailand 1,350 2,002 3,009 3,289 0 1 144
Other Countries 5,889 8,377 9,828 13,058 1 2 122
Africa 2,060 3,002 3,984 5,325 0 1 158
America 6,814 7,489 7,665 9,390 1 2 38
Oceania 7,180 5,775 7,045 9,286 2 2 29
Source: Department of Immigration & Emigration
The 616,000 tourists arriving in 2004 came predominantly form European and Asian
countries, with European countries accounting for 77 per cent of the total number of
arrivals. The number of tourists from other parts of the world is minimal. Italian tourists
lead with 140,000 arrivals in 2004 followed by the British (114,000 arrivals) and
Germans (71,000 arrivals).
While the sandy beaches, clear lagoons and the warm sunshine are the primary attraction
in recent years product development such as spa and health tourism, safari-sea cruise
tourism, surfing, etc., has taken place. This has helped to consolidate the up market niche
of the Maldivian tourism industry. Prior to the tsunami, the Maldives had recorded some
success in attracting tourists from other European countries, especially France and
Switzerland. Recent changes in Central and Eastern Europe have created new market
opportunities amongst higher income groups in these countries. For example in recent
years, Russia has recorded tremendous growth in the number of tourists visiting the
Maldives from 4,000 in 2001 to more than 18,000 in 2004, or a growth of 354%.
Growth in arrivals from Asia has been more stagnant at around 19 per cent over the
years, with Japan accounting for 40 per cent of Asian arrivals. Whilst the immediate
market dynamics indicate that short-term marketing efforts should focus on EU countries,
imminent growth potential from selected Eastern European countries and the Asian
region is much greater in the medium to long term given rising incomes in these regions.
25