Finance Minister Ibrahim Amer has said that the tourist arrival target for this year will not be achieved.

Presenting the budget for next year, Ameer noted that the government had estimated 1.8 million tourist arrivals this year. However, the number was revised to 1.9 million as the economy improved.

Presenting the budget and supplementary budget, Ameer said the country's economic growth is expected to return to the long-term average of 5.5 percent next year.

The main reason for the growth is the increase in tourist arrivals in the Maldives, he said, adding that the opening of the Chinese border this year has led to an additional boost in tourism.

Ameer said the number of tourists from the UK has been declining since the second quarter of the year compared to 2022.

"This is likely due to the post-COVID-19 opening of borders, the pent-up demand is no longer there and the increased competition in the tourism market with all countries' borders now open. Now it is estimated, a record number of 1.87 million tourists," the Ameer said.