The administration achieved its tourist arrival target for 2022 on Tuesday, welcoming the 1.6 millionth tourist to arrive in the country this year. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, in his address at the opening of the Parliament for the year on February 3, 2022, announced the administration's ambition to attract over 1.6 million tourists this year.
At a ceremony at Velana International Airport (VIA) this afternoon, Vice President Faisal Naseem officially welcomed the 1.6 millionth visitor to the Maldives. The event was organised by the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) with the assistance of other relevant government offices and institutions. The Maldives reached the target with the combined efforts of relevant government agencies, the private sector, and industry stakeholders.
In 2021, the Maldives achieved its target of attracting 1.3 million tourists two months before the year's end. So far, the Maldives has attracted 23.1 per cent more travellers than the previous year. The administration earmarked an increased budget this year for tourism promotion activities.
MMPRC carried out over 171 marketing and promotional activities this year as of the fourth quarter, including 88 campaigns, attending 41 fairs, six roadshows, and ten virtual events, and organising 17 familiarisation tips and nine other events. The Maldives won the industry's most coveted "World's Leading Destination" award this year at the 2022 World Travel Awards for the third consecutive time.
