Strong Tourist Satisfaction Sets Stage for Visit Maldives Year 2027

The Maldives is heading into its planned Visit Maldives Year 2027 campaign with strong confidence, backed by high levels of tourist satisfaction and a continued focus on expanding international connectivity and strengthening the country’s tourism offering.

Speaking at the Maldives Tourism Intelligence Quarterly Briefing, Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Mohamed Ameen highlighted the positive response from international visitors, noting that more than 84 per cent of tourists who visited the Maldives in 2025 expressed a desire to return.

A 2025 survey conducted by the Ministry in partnership with Visit Maldives also found that more than 90 per cent of visitors would recommend the Maldives to their friends and family, while over 80 per cent reported being highly satisfied with their holiday experience.

Ameen said these figures reaffirm the Maldives’ strong reputation as a world-class tourism destination, with its natural environment, Maldivian culture, traditions and renowned hospitality continuing to form the foundation of the country’s tourism identity.

He said the ability of Maldivian tourism workers and businesses to adapt to industry changes, environmental challenges and modern innovations is another key strength of the sector.

The Minister said these strengths will provide a solid foundation for the Visit Maldives Year 2027 initiative, which is envisioned as a major national campaign bringing together the government, tourism industry, employees and local and international partners.

According to Ameen, the campaign will also support President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s strategy to diversify and further strengthen the tourism industry.

As preparations continue, the government is working to improve the sector’s competitiveness and international accessibility. Ameen highlighted efforts to maintain competitive Jet A-1 fuel prices and strengthen relationships with key tourism source markets.

He said tourism operations returned to near-normal levels by early July following a four-month disruption, while efforts are continuing to attract new airline operators and strengthen international air connectivity.

National carrier Maldivian has established a connection between Malé and Melbourne, while discussions are underway with Ethiopian Airlines to establish connectivity between the Maldives and Africa by the end of this year or during the first quarter of next year.

Ameen said the combination of strong visitor satisfaction, improved connectivity, competitive operating conditions and coordinated promotion will help position the Maldives for a successful Visit Maldives Year 2027.

He described the initiative as a defining milestone for the Maldivian tourism industry and called for the continued cooperation of all stakeholders to make 2027 a landmark year for the country’s tourism sector.

With a globally recognised tourism identity and high visitor willingness to return and recommend the destination, the Maldives is seeking to build on these strengths and make Visit Maldives Year 2027 a major opportunity to showcase the country to new and returning travellers around the world.