MUMBAI:
To rekindle the interest of Indian tourists in the Maldives, a prominent tourism body in Male has announced plans to host roadshows across major Indian cities. Concerns over declining Indian tourist numbers prompted the Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) to engage in discussions with India’s High Commissioner, Munu Mahawar, focusing on bolstering travel and tourism cooperation between the two nations.
The Maldives faced widespread criticism following offensive remarks made by three Maldivian officials on social media directed at India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. These remarks coincided with Modi’s sharing of photos and videos showcasing the scenic Lakshadweep Islands on January 6 via his social media account.
The repercussions of these remarks resulted in a considerable number of Indian tourists, including numerous celebrities, cancelling their reservations and reassessing their plans to visit the Maldives. As a consequence, the Maldives experienced a notable decrease in Indian tourist arrivals, leading to India’s ranking dropping from being one of the top visitor countries to the sixth position after January, as indicated by tourism arrival statistics.
As per data from the Maldives’ Ministry of Tourism up to April 10 this year, China leads with 71,995 tourists, followed by the United Kingdom, Russia, Italy, Germany, and India. Following discussions held at the Indian High Commission in Male, MATATO announced plans for extensive road shows across key Indian cities and arrangements for influencer and media familiarization trips to the Maldives in the coming months.
Quoting from the statement, “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.”
“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 added.
The association views its meeting with the Indian High Commissioner as a testament to its dedication to fostering robust tourism ties between the Maldives and India, foreseeing transformative collaborations that will drive sustainable growth in the region’s tourism sector.
Prior to the eruption of this diplomatic row, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu had urged India to withdraw its 88 military personnel from the country, citing sovereignty concerns. President Muizzu, known for his pro-China leanings, has announced that by May 10, all Indian military personnel, including those in civilian attire, will be repatriated from the Maldives, signaling a shift in the country’s military presence.
