The Maldives, in a self-defeating move, has strained its own relations with India, leading to a noteworthy drop in Indian tourists visiting the island nation. This decrease is impacting the Maldivian economy significantly. To counteract this, a leading Maldivian tourism body has decided to woo Indian travelers with roadshows in major Indian cities, hoping to reshape perceptions and reignite interest in the Maldives as a travel destination.
It's well-known that tourism is the lifeblood of the Maldives, an archipelago surrounded by azure waters. Indians are amongst the largest groups of holidaymakers here. However, the tide turned when President Muizzu introduced the 'India Out' campaign during his election bid. Subsequently, relations soured and India even withdrew its non-military personnel from the islands.
Maldivian Ministers Make Disparaging Remarks About India
Weeks after these events, PM Modi’s photo-op from the Lakshadweep Islands became viral, sparking social media comparisons between Lakshadweep and the Maldives. This was followed by derogatory remarks about India from several Maldivian ministers and officials.
The fallout was a decline in Indian tourists visiting the Maldives. Now the country is taking steps to compensate for this loss and mend ties with India.
On April 8th, after discussions with the Indian High Commissioner in Malé, the Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) announced plans to expand travel and tourism collaboration, including roadshows across various Indian cities.
Indian High Commissioner Welcomed in Malé: A New Chapter Begins for India-Maldives Travel Relations
MATATO released a statement asserting their intent to collaborate with the Indian High Commission in the Maldives, gearing up for an extensive roadshow in major Indian cities. Additionally, influencers and media will be invited on Maldivian trips in the coming months to showcase the country.
The association believes that India remains a significant market for Maldivian tourism and aims to promote the Maldives as a leading tourist destination, working closely with major tourism entities and key players across India.
Indian Tourists to Maldives Decline Post-Diplomatic Spat
According to official statistics from the Maldivian Ministry of Tourism, there’s been a noticeable decline in Indian visitors since the diplomatic fallout. Of the over 1.7 million tourists in 2023, Indians (209,198) were the majority, followed by Russia and China. In the weeks that followed the tension, Indian visitors slipped to fifth place.
It is notable that bilateral relations between India and the Maldives have turned sour since the coming of the China-friendly President Muizzu last November.
