Number of operated tourism facilities increases

The number of tourist facilities currently operating in the Maldives has increased.

This is according to the latest weekly statistics published by the Ministry of Tourism on Thursday.

According to the ministry's figures, the number of operational tourist accommodation establishments in the Maldives as of September 18 was 1,227.

The guesthouses are spread across 118 islands in 20 atolls, with hotels operating on nine islands in eight atolls. 68 percent of the bed capacity is in resorts, 24 percent in guesthouses, five percent in safari ships and three percent in hotels.

Currently, a total of 62,864 tourist beds are in operation in these facilities, including 174 resorts, 887 guest houses, 14 hotels and 152 residential ships.

The beds available in these facilities include 42,965 in resorts, 1,956 in hotels, 14,975 in guest houses and 2,968 on houseboats.

The Maldives currently has a capacity of 1,235 tourism facilities, including 152 safari vessels, 887 guesthouses, 14 hotels and 182 resorts. This means that out of the total facility capacity, eight resorts have not yet resumed operations.

The Ministry introduced homestay in the Maldives in January 2022. Since then, a few more homestay facilities have been opened. This was done as part of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's vision and policy on tourism development to make tourism and its benefits accessible to the island communities.