Indian Visitors Drop In Maldives Amid Diplomatic Row

EE News Desk Jan 30, 2024

As per a media report, the Maldives, famous for its pristine beaches and luxury tourism, has experienced a notable change in its tourist demographics. Within a span of three weeks, Indian visitors, once the third-largest group, have now dropped to the fifth position, as reported by the Maldives' tourism ministry.

This shift aligns with increased diplomatic tensions between India and the Maldives, sparked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to the Indian archipelago in the Arabian Sea. Although Indian tourists traditionally formed a significant portion, constituting nearly 11 per cent of the tourism market in 2023, recent controversies surrounding Modi's beach excursion to Lakshadweep on 2 January have led to a considerable decline in their numbers.

The debate

Following Prime Minister Modi's visit to Lakshadweep and subsequent social media updates, some in the Maldives perceived it as a deliberate strategy to divert tourists from their country. This led to three junior ministers in the Mohamed Muizzu government making derogatory comments against the Indian prime minister, triggering a wave of anti-Maldives sentiment on Indian social media platforms.

The hashtag #BoycottMaldives gained traction, with reports emerging of cancelled trips to the island nation. In a show of solidarity, the Indian travel portal EaseMyTrip suspended flight bookings to the Maldives. The Maldives officials responsible for the derogatory posts later deleted their comments but faced suspension by the country's president. Maldives Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer labeled the remarks by the officials as "unacceptable" and emphasised that his country is committed to “fostering a positive and constructive dialogue with our partners.”

“The government of Maldives can’t afford to have a spat with India, and it will be an economic suicide. Everybody should see this,” pointed out former Maldivian Foreign Minister Ahmed Shaheed.

Slump in India's share

As per the Maldives tourism website, at the beginning of 2024, India held the position of the third-largest contributor to its tourism, boasting a 7.1 per cent market share. Notably, China did not even feature in the top 10 markets list during that period.

However, following the diplomatic tensions, there was a sudden shift in these figures. As of 28 January, India's market share in Maldives tourism had increased to 8 per cent. Surprisingly, China and the UK surpassed India, securing the third and fourth positions, respectively, in the updated top 10 list.