The number of tourists arriving in the Maldives on cruise liners has increased by 89 per cent so far this year compared with the same period in 2025, the Ministry of Tourism has said.

According to the ministry's latest Maldives Tourism Updates report, 15,577 cruise passengers visited the Maldives this year, up from 8,263 during the same period last year.

The highest number of cruise visitors arrived during the first four months of the year. February recorded the most arrivals with 5,237 passengers, followed by March with 4,049 and April with 3,457.

France was the largest source market for cruise visitors. Of the 31,508 French tourists who visited the Maldives this year, 5.4 per cent arrived by cruise ship.

Overall, the Maldives has welcomed more than 1.2 million tourist arrivals so far this year. While total arrivals remain slightly lower than the same period last year, China continues to be the country's largest source market, with more than 213,000 visitors.