The tourism minister of the Maldives has called upon Indian tourists to support the country’s economy, which heavily relies on tourism, as the number of Indian visitors has decreased amid strained bilateral relations. Minister Ibrahim Faisal highlighted the historical ties between the Maldives and India and expressed the government’s desire to collaborate with India for peace and cooperation.
Following derogatory remarks made by three Maldivian officials against India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media, a significant backlash occurred, leading to the cancellation of reservations and plans by many Indians, including celebrities, to visit the Maldives. Consequently, India’s position as a top visitor country plummeted from first to sixth place after January, as reflected in tourism arrival statistics.
Reports indicate a sharp decline of 42 percent in tourist arrivals from India in the first four months of this year compared to the same period last year. Despite India being the top tourist market for the Maldives at the beginning of the year, it has now dropped to sixth place. The Tourism Ministry recorded 43,991 tourist arrivals from India as of May 4, compared to 73,785 arrivals during the same period last year.
The strained relations between India and the Maldives stem from President Mohamed Muizzu’s administration, which assumed office in November. President Muizzu, perceived as pro-China, has pledged to fulfill his election promise of removing Indian military personnel from the Maldives. This move was followed by the forced withdrawal of 88 Indian military personnel stationed at aviation platforms gifted by India. President Muizzu has accused India of interference in Maldivian affairs and won the presidential elections with an “India Out” campaign.
These developments have strained the traditionally close ties between India and the Maldives, with implications for regional dynamics in the Indian Ocean Region. India views the Maldives as a key maritime neighbor and an important partner in its regional initiatives such as ‘SAGAR’ and the ‘Neighbourhood First Policy’.