Top Countries of Origin of the Tourist Visiting Maldives - India - Russia - China - Germany - Italy - United Kingdom - United States - France - Japan - Australia These travelers often seek a mix of luxury, nature, and cultural immersion — making the Maldives a dream destination. Why Tourists Visit Maldives - Honeymoons & Romantic Getaways: Overwater villas, private beaches, and sunset cruises. - Diving & Snorkeling: Coral reefs, manta rays, whale sharks, and vibrant marine ecosystems. - Wellness & Relaxation: Spa retreats, yoga sessions, and tranquil island vibes. - Adventure & Water Sports: Jet skiing, parasailing, surfing, and fishing. - Local Culture: Visiting Malé’s historical sites, mosques, and markets. Accommodation Preferences - Resorts: 152 operating resorts offering over 35,000 beds - Guesthouses: Popular among budget travelers and those seeking local experiences. - Hotels & Safari Vessels: For flexible itineraries and island-hopping adventures. Visitor Numbers - In 2024, the Maldives welcomed over 2 million visitors, with a daily average of 5,626 tourists. - The average length of stay is around 7 days, often split between luxury resorts and local islands. Connectivity The Maldives is well connected with the rest of the world. Several flights from Europe, Middle East and South East Asia operate to Velana International Airport, the main gateway to the Maldives. The highest international traffic is from Colombo, Sri Lanka, various Indian cities and Dubai, while several scheduled and charter flights bring in passengers from all major European capitals, and South East Asian cities. Once in the Maldives you can travel to any of the twelve domestic and international airports to which several daily flights are operated. Scheduled ferry services also operate from Male’ to most of the atolls. If you are travelling to a resort, your transfer will most likely be prearranged at the time of booking your accommodation. Transfers to resorts around the airport are by speedboat and transfers to resorts and islands further afield are by seaplane. Travel Information Time 5 hours ahead of GMT International telephone code +960 Electricity 240 volts Mobile services Prepaid SIM cards are available from two mobile service providers at the airport. The SIM cards can be used for local and international call and for data. Currency The Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR) is the local currency. All major credit cards are accepted in the country. Visa For the most accurate and current information on all entry requirements, please visit the official Maldives Immigration website: https://www.immigration.gov.mv/tourist-visa/. To obtain Traveller Declaration Form, please visit the IMUGA platform. Taxes A Tourism Goods and Service Tax (TGST) of 17% is levied on all goods and services at tourist establishments. A Green Tax of US$ 6.00 per person per day is payable for guests staying at integrated tourist resorts, resort hotels and other tourist establishments. Tourists who stay in local island guesthouses and hotels with more than 50 registered rooms are similarly subject to a Green Tax of US$ 6.00 per person per day. The Green Tax for tourists who stay in local island guesthouses and hotels with 50 or less rooms is US$ 3.00 per person per day. Travel and transfer International Flights to Addu (GAN) Direct International Service - SriLankan Airlines operates a non-stop route between Colombo (CMB) and Gan (GAN). • Flight time: ~1 hour 55 minutes • 2 Flights every week Indirect Connections via Malé (MLE) Most international travelers transfer through Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (MLE) before hopping onto a domestic service to Gan. - Maldivian Airlines ATR-72 services from Malé to Gan: • Q2102, Q2106: daily flights • Q2112: late-night service Speedboat transfer is the norm to resorts close to the International Airport. The rest is covered by seaplane or domestic flight. If you are travelling to Male’ you can take a taxi from the airport. Several daily flights operate from Velana International Airport to the 12 domestic and international airports in the country. Scheduled ferries also operate from Male’ to many of the atolls. Alcohol Import of alcohol by individuals and consuming in Local Islands is not permitted. However, alcohol is available at all the resorts. Weather Year-round temperature hot tropical climate. The average high temperature is 31.5 degree Celsius and the average low temperature is 26.4 degree Celsius. The Southwest monsoon from May to October brings rain and the Northeast monsoon from November to April is generally sunny. Clothing Cotton clothes suits well with the hot tropical climate of the Maldives. Tourist are expected to respect local culture and dress modestly when visiting or staying on inhabited islands. Sandals are ideal, as you may often want to slip them off and go barefoot. Medical services The main public hospital in Addu City is Addu Equatorial Hospital with all modern facilities and in Male City, Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) and private hospitals ADK and Treetop are located in Male’. Each Atoll has at least one hospital and most resorts have their own clinics and in-house doctors.