New air route connects Chongqing Airlines to Maldives

On Monday, Chongqing Airlines commenced its inaugural flights to the Maldives, marking a significant step in strengthening the bonds between China and the Maldives. The new Chongqing-Male route will operate three times a week, offering exciting new opportunities for tourism and cultural exchange between the two nations.
The inaugural flight was warmly welcomed upon its arrival at Velana International Airport (VIA) by local officials and tourism representatives. Expressing their enthusiasm for this development, the tourism ministry shared on X, “We warmly welcome our friends from China to our beautiful islands. This new connection strengthens our bonds and opens up new opportunities for tourism.”
With the addition of Chongqing Airlines, the Maldives now hosts flights from four Chinese airlines, including China Eastern, Beijing Capital Airlines, and Xiamen Airlines.
In January, the Maldives government urged tourism stakeholders to enhance efforts to restore China’s position as the primary source market for Maldives tourism—a status it held before the COVID-19 pandemic. China was the largest source market for Maldives tourism prior to the pandemic, and tourist arrivals resumed in January 2023 after a three-year hiatus.
The Maldives saw a significant recovery in Chinese tourist numbers in 2023, welcoming 187,118 Chinese visitors. This year, the trend continues positively, with over 107,940 Chinese tourists arriving by June 12, accounting for 11.5 percent of total arrivals.
The new Chongqing-Male route is expected to further boost these numbers, contributing positively to the Maldives' tourism industry and economy.