In a move to rekindle the waning flow of tourists from India, the Maldives has reached out earnestly to Indian travelers to help sustain its tourism-centric economy. The plea came directly from the Maldivian Tourism Minister, Ibrahim Faisal, addressing the recent decrease in Indian tourist arrivals which pose a significant threat to the nation’s economic stability.
During an exclusive conversation with PTI Videos Dubai, Faisal seized the opportunity to remind both nations of their historical bonds, emphasizing the Maldives’ intent to maintain and strengthen these ties under the newly elected government. With the shadow of strained diplomatic relations looming over, the minister’s message was clear: peace, friendship, and a hearty welcome await Indians willing to explore the archipelagic paradise.
“We have a history. Our newly elected government also wants to work together (with India). We always promote peace and a friendly environment. Our people and the government will give a warm welcome to Indian arrivals. As the Tourism Minister, I want to tell Indians to please be a part of Maldives’ tourism. Our economy depends on tourism,” Faisal stated emphatically.
The urgent call for tourism solidarity came after a series of diplomatic missteps resulted in a downturn in Indian tourist numbers. A chain of controversial social media posts by Maldivian officials targeted the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the nation—an act that met with strong reproach from the Indian public. Modi’s posting of scenic images of India’s Lakshadweep Islands drew unsavory responses that sparked the controversy.
In the wake of these incidents, scores of Indians, including various high-profile individuals, pulled the plug on planned visits, leading to significant cancellations across Maldivian tourist establishments. Tourism statistics made a sharp note of this fallout; from holding the coveted position as the top source of visitors to the Maldives, India’s rank plummeted to the sixth place post the January debacle.
Sun.mv, a Maldivian news portal, reported a stark 42 percent decrease in tourist arrivals from India during the initial four months of the current year, compared to the same period in the previous year. The start of the year saw India spearheading as the most significant tourist market for the Maldives, only to witness an unexpected dip to sixth place. The Maldives Tourism Ministry’s statistics bring this into perspective—43,991 Indian arrivals were noted as of May 4, in contrast to 73,785 during the January-April span of the preceding year.
This decline is widely attributed to the cooling relations between the two nations following the election of President Mohamed Muizzu. The president, often regarded as favoring China, acted swiftly upon his ascension to power by upholding an election vow to dismiss Indian military personnel from Maldivian soil. Under his command, 88 Indian military personnel, previously assigned to three India-gifted aviation platforms, were expelled. Muizzu’s presidential campaign had been marked with an ‘India Out’ stance, casting India as an interfering force in Maldivian affairs.
Despite the frictions, the importance of the Maldives to India’s strategic interests is undeniable. The Maldives positions itself crucially in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), taking a significant role in India’s security and regional cooperation frameworks, like ‘SAGAR’ (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the ‘Neighbourhood First Policy’ spearheaded by Modi’s governance.
The Maldivian Tourism Minister’s endeavor to restore the flow of tourists from India is, therefore, as much an economic necessity as it is a diplomatic overture—bridging gaps, seeking reconciliation, and possibly, steering the nations towards more amicable and mutually beneficial relations. The hope remains that the allure of Maldives’ turquoise waters and white sandy beaches will once again charm Indian travelers, and in turn, safeguard the archipelago’s economy from the tides of geopolitical upheaval.
