MALE, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen on Thursday said 21 new luxury resorts would be open for business in the holiday islands by the end of 2018, boosting the country's influential tourism sector.

Addressing a gathering in Thaa atoll in Madifushi, 121 km south of capital Male, Yameen said 30 new resorts had opened under his administration so far, with 21 new resort destinations slated for opening within this year.

"More than 70 percent of work on these 21 resorts have now been complete. During the recent five years, the number of new resort projects have been comparatively higher than any other period," Yameen said.

The Maldives tourism sector has recorded an upward trend this year, with a total of 726,515 holidaymakers visiting the Maldives during the first six months of this year, marking a 10.5 percent increase when compared with the same period last year.