Maldives To Hold Roadshows In India To Boost Travel Amid Strained Ties

13 April, 2024

Maldives faced widespread criticism following offensive remarks made by three Maldivian officials on social media directed at India and PM Modi, which resulted in a considerable number of Indian tourists, including numerous celebrities, cancelling their reservations and reassessing their plans to visit.

As the number of Indian tourists to the Maldives continues to decline, the Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) held discussions with India's High Commissioner here, Munu Mahawar, on enhancing travel and tourism cooperation between the two countries.

The tourism arrival statistics reflected how from being a top visitor country, India's position went down to first fifth and now at the sixth position after January. In an apparent bid to woo Indian tourists back to the Maldives, a major tourism body in Male has announced that it will hold road shows across key Indian cities.

According to the statistics by the Maldives' Ministry of Tourism, this year as of April 10, of the total 6,63,269 tourists arriving, China continued to lead with 71,995, followed by the United Kingdom (66,999), Russia (66,803), Italy (61,379), Germany (52,256) and India (37,417).

After discussions took place at a meeting held at the Indian High Commission in Male, MATATO said in a statement that they expressed their intention to collaborate closely with the Indian High Commission in Maldives to bolster tourism initiatives, Sun.mv news portal reported.

"In this trajectory, plans are currently underway to launch comprehensive road shows across key Indian cities and to facilitate influencer and media familiarisation trips to the Maldives in the upcoming months," it said quoting from the statement.

"While India remains a crucial tourist market to the Maldives, MATATO states they look forward to partnering with prominent travel associations and industry stakeholders across India to further promote the Maldives as a premier travel destination," it said.

The Association also attributed its meeting with the Indian High Commissioner as "a testament to MATATO's continued dedication to fostering robust tourism ties between the Maldives and India," which it said, will pave the way for "transformative collaborations to drive sustainable growth in the region's tourism sector."

Earlier before this diplomatic row erupted, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu had, within hours of taking oath last November, asked India to withdraw its 88 military personnel from the country, saying their presence was a threat to his country's sovereignty.

Muizzu, known for his pro-China leanings, has announced that no Indian military personnel, even in civilian clothes, would be present in Maldives after all of 88 personnel are repatriated by May 10.

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