‘Please be part of…’: Maldives calls for tourism support amid a sharp decline in Indian visitors

Amid strained bilateral ties with India under the Muizzu government, a top Maldives minister has urged Indian tourists to support the tourism-dependent economy. With the number of Indian tourists visiting the Maldives dwindling, the island’s tourism minister on Monday called on Indians to contribute to the country’s economy.

“We have a history. Our newly elected government also wants to cooperate (with India). We always promote peace and a friendly environment. Our people and government will extend a warm welcome to the Indian arrivals. As Minister of Tourism, I would like to appeal to Indians to please be a part of Maldives tourism. Our economy depends on tourism,” Maldivian Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal said in a speech PTI interview.

The request comes a few months after a huge backlash from India after Maldivian officials made derogatory comments about India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media. Many Indians, including celebrities, have canceled trips to the Maldives. As a result, India’s ranking in tourist arrivals plummeted from the top to sixth.

Tourists in India are disappearing

The number of tourist arrivals from India has fallen by 42 percent in the first four months of this year compared to the first four months of last year, a study shows sun.pl report published Monday. At the beginning of this year, India was the most important tourist market for the Maldives. Shortly into the year, India dropped to sixth place among the top tourism markets, the news portal reported.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Tourism, the Maldives recorded a total of 43,991 tourist arrivals from India on May 4. Between January and April last year, the Maldives recorded 73,785 tourist arrivals. This year the number is 42,638. The report attributes the sharp decline in the number of Indian tourists to the strained relations between India and the Maldives after the new government led by President Mohamed Muizzu took office in November last year.

Ties between India and Maldives

Ties between India and the Maldives have come under strain as President Muizzu, widely seen as a pro-China leader after taking charge as president in November, insisted he would keep his election promise and expel Indian military personnel would put his country. Shortly after coming to power, Muizzu forced the withdrawal of the 88 Indian soldiers manning three aviation platforms that India had donated to the Maldives.

He has previously accused India of meddling in the affairs of the Maldives and won the presidential election last September with an ‘India Out’ campaign. The Maldives are India’s most important maritime neighbor in the Indian Ocean (IOR) and hold a special place. in its initiatives like ‘SAGAR’ (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the Modi government’s ‘Neighbourhood First Policy’.