Maldives' Tourism Minister Urges Indian Tourists To Visit Post Decline In Numbers

The number of Indian tourists visiting the Maldives has decreased due to strained bilateral relations. To address this issue, the Maldivian Tourism Minister, Ibrahim Faisal, urged Indians to contribute to the country's economy which heavily relies on tourism. In an interview with PTI Videos, he emphasised the historical relations between India and the Maldives and expressed the newly elected government's desire to work together with India. He added that his country always promotes peace and a friendly environment, and Indian tourists would be warmly welcomed. 

However, after derogatory remarks against India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were made by three Maldivian officials on social media, many Indians, including multiple celebrities, cancelled their reservations, and dropped plans to visit the Maldives. This resulted in India's position dropping from topmost to sixth place among the top tourist markets. Statistics from the Maldives Tourism Ministry showed that the number of tourist arrivals from India has declined by 42 per cent in the first four months of 2021 compared to the same period last year. 

The report attributed the decline in Indian tourists to the strained relations between India and the Maldives after President Mohamed Muizzu assumed office in November 2020. President Muizzu, who is seen as a pro-China leader, had promised during his election campaign to evict Indian military personnel from the country. After coming into power, he forced the withdrawal of the 88 Indian military personnel manning three aviation platforms gifted by India to the Maldives and accused India of meddling in the affairs of his country. 

It is worth noting that the Maldives is India's key maritime neighbor in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and occupies a special place in its initiatives like 'SAGAR' (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the 'Neighborhood First Policy' of the Modi government.

(With inputs from PTI)