MALE, Maldives (MNTV) — The Maldives government has announced plans to introduce new visa categories aimed at attracting long-stay visitors, as the ongoing Middle East conflict disrupts travel routes and triggers a sharp decline in tourist arrivals.
Tourism and Environment Minister Thoriq Ibrahim said authorities are working to expand the current 30-day visa-on-arrival system to allow easier extensions alongside the introduction of two new categories — a “Remote Working Visa” and a “Content Creator Visa.”
Speaking at a cabinet committee press conference addressing the economic fallout of the war, Thoriq said the initiative is designed to reposition the Maldives as a longer-stay destination. The move comes as airspace closures across parts of the Middle East — a key transit corridor — have significantly disrupted travel flows.
According to the minister, tourist arrivals have dropped by approximately 21% since the beginning of the month, reflecting the immediate impact of flight disruptions and geopolitical instability.
The Middle East serves as a major transit hub for visitors traveling to the Maldives from Europe and other regions, making the island nation particularly vulnerable to such disruptions.
Authorities now aim to attract remote workers and digital content creators who can stay for extended periods while continuing their work.
Officials say this shift could help sustain occupancy levels in guesthouses and smaller tourism operators, which are more sensitive to short-term fluctuations in arrivals.
In parallel, the government is exploring diversification of its tourism offerings. Plans include expanding activities such as sports fishing, big game fishing, and both technical and recreational diving, as part of efforts to broaden the country’s appeal beyond traditional luxury resort tourism.
In a notable policy shift, Thoriq also announced that the Maldives will lift a decades-old ban on spear fishing — in place for around 40 years — as part of its push to develop niche tourism segments.
The government is further working on measures to attract chartered superyachts and facilitate easier access for researchers seeking to base themselves in the Maldives, signaling a broader strategy to diversify visitor profiles amid ongoing global uncertainty.
Analysts note that the Maldives’ heavy reliance on international tourism makes it particularly exposed to geopolitical shocks, with the current Middle East conflict underscoring the fragility of travel-dependent economies.
