Tourist arrivals decrease by 10%

Some 282,000 foreign tourists visited Maldives by end of May 2009, tourism ministry statistics have revealed. According to the ministry this is 10.5 % reduction when compared to May 2008, probably due the effects of the World Crisis.



Looking at tourist arrivals for the past 5 months of this year, least number of tourist arrivals were in February and March. According to World Tourism Organization (WTO) there was an 8% reduction in global tourism in the first 2 months of 2009. Global economic downturn and the A1H1N1 influenza have had devastating impacts on global tourism industry with an anticipated reduction of 2-3% by the end of this year.
Highest number of tourists arrivals in Malé were from Italy ,UK , Germany , France , Russia , China , Switzerland , Japan , Australia , and India.
- 47,700 Italians
- 43,500 British
- 30,000 Germans
- 27,791 French
- 18,919 Russians

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