Maldives Sees 33% Drop In Indian Tourists Amid Diplomatic Tensions; New Top Visiting Country Emerges

A recent report, citing data from the Maldives tourism ministry, has revealed a significant decrease in the number of Indian tourists visiting the country, with a decline of 33 per cent compared to March last year.

According to a report from Male-based Adhadhu, in March 2023, Maldives received over 41,000 Indian tourists, whereas this number dropped to just 27,224 in March 2024, indicating a steep decline of 33 per cent.

Maldives Sees 33% Drop In Indian Tourists

The primary reason behind this decrease is attributed to the tourism campaign initiated by the Indian government, which encouraged citizens to explore the Lakshadweep islands. Until March 2023, India held the position of the second-largest source of tourism for Maldives, accounting for a 10 per cent share in the market, as per the report. However, due to diplomatic tensions between the two nations, India has now dropped to the sixth position, holding a six per cent market share, as reported by Hindustan Times.

While India experiences a notable decline in tourist numbers, there has been a sudden surge in the number of tourists visiting Maldives from China. With the strengthening of ties between China and Maldives, the latter has witnessed over 54,000 tourist arrivals from China in 2024.

China has now emerged as the top visiting country for Maldives, dominating a significant portion of the market. In February of this year, Maldives recorded a total of 217,394 tourist arrivals, out of which over 34,600 were from China. It is noteworthy that India held the top position in the tourist market for Maldives in the years 2021, 2022, and 2023, with more than 200,000 tourists per year, as per the Hindustan Times report.

India-Maldives diplomatic row

A significant decline in the Indian tourist market for Maldives was observed following the appointment of President Mohamed Muizzu, who is known to be a pro-China leader. It was also under Muizzu's administration that the order to expel Indian military personnel from Maldives was issued, leading to escalated tensions between the two nations.

The deteriorating ties between the two countries were further exacerbated when derogatory comments about Prime Minister Narendra Modi were made by Maldivian ministers on social media, sparking global outrage.

President Muizzu's visit to China occurred just a week after the derogatory comments against PM Modi were posted. During the visit, China was urged by Muizzu to revive its tourism market in Maldives in order to bolster the island nation's economy, as per media reports.

The request was made by the Maldivian president, stating, "China was our number one market pre-COVID, and it is my request that we intensify efforts for China to regain this position."