After a three-year delay owing to Covid-19, Chinese tourists started arriving in the Maldives on Wednesday.

The 198 Chinese visitors that arrived in the Maldives were greeted by Tourism Minister Abdulla Mausoom, the Chinese Ambassador in the Maldives, and Managing Director of Maldives Maldives Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) Thoyyib Mohamed.

According to Mausoom, once Chinese tourists begin visiting the Maldives, tourism will experience a significant uptick.

Four charters from Beijing Capital will travel to the Maldives, with three departing this month and the fourth on February 1. Beginning on January 28, China Eastern will operate regular flights on Saturdays.

According to a statement made last week by the Maldives Travel Agents and Tour Operators Association (MATATO), at least 10% of all visitors to the Maldives in the upcoming months would come from China.