Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon has said that the tourist arrivals from China in 2015 was larger than the total population of the Maldives.
She made the statement speaking in the ceremony held in Hotel Jen on Monday night to mark the Chinese New Year.
Minister Dunya noted that last year Chinese tourists amounted to over 360,000 tourists, noting the developing relations between the two nations.
Chinese Ambassador to the Maldives Wang Fukang said that last year China accounted for the largest number of arrivals by country of origin to the Maldives. He added that this was the sixth consecutive year, China had claimed this position.
Ambassador Wang noted that Tourism was a huge share of the local economy and therefore, Chinese citizens had a significant share in the economy.
The Ambassador also said that the number of Maldivians traveling to China on various purposes had increased by 40 percent last year, noting that this was favorable improvement.
Ambassador Wang also reflected on the increasing number of airlines and flights between the two countries.
Chinese tourists to Maldives larger than Maldivian population: Dunya
