Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC/ Visit Maldives) welcomed the first direct flight from Fujian Province, China, to the Maldives, yesterday. A special ceremony was held at Velana International Airport, commemorating the arrival of Xiamen Airlines flight MF8017.
Tourists were greeted with a traditional performance and presented with gift packs. Dignitaries that attended the event include the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Maldives, H.E Ambassador Wang Lixin and representatives from the Ministry of Tourism, Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), Maldives Immigration, Maldives Customs Service, and other government enterprises and tourism associations in the Maldives.
China has long remained a crucial market for the Maldives tourism industry. The resumption of direct flights from China to the Maldives on January 18, 2023 contributed generously to tourist arrivals last year, with over 187,125 tourists from China visiting the Maldives.
On January 19th 2024, Maldives welcomed the first direct flight from Hong Kong to the Maldives since 2020, which contributed to a significant increase in Chinese visitors. Maldives also achieved the milestone of the highest number of tourist arrivals in a single day on February 12th, 2024.