Tourism ministers of Maldives and India discuss enhancing tourism

Maldives’ Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal and India’s Tourism Minister Shri Gajendra Singh have discussed enhancing tourism between the two nations.

The discussions took place during a meeting between the two at India’s capital New Delhi on Tuesday as part of Minister Faisal’s ongoing visit to India to participate in "Welcome India", a three-city Roadshow, to promote Maldives tourism.

Minister Faisal, via a post on social media, described the discussions which focused on how tourism can be enhanced between the two nations as  “both insightful and productive”.

In this regard, he said opportunities to promote mutual growth and exchange knowledge to enrich the tourism sectors were explored, adding both sides looking forward to creating innovative partnerships and unforgettable experiences for travelers from both nations.

“India is a vital partner for the Maldives, and we are dedicated to nurturing our strong relationship,” he stressed.

While the Maldives has attracted a little over 71,000 Indian arrivals so far in 2024, the country is currently ranked sixth among the top 10 source markets.

India was the top source market for three consecutive years from 2020 to 2023, but slipped to sixth position earlier this year following a debacle that involved three senior-ranking Maldives government officials.

While the three are still in suspension, they derided Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier, which led to tensions soaring high between both countries, resulting in a large-scale boycott movement against the Maldives launched by Indian celebrities and netizens alike.

Since then, the Maldivian government has made efforts to mend its relations with India after which, it is now on the mend.

The Maldivian government has also begun various efforts to reestablish Maldives’ presence as a popular tourist destination among Indian travelers.