Maldives: Indian Tourist Numbers Plummet by 33% Amid Diplomatic Tensions

Indian tourist arrivals in the Maldives have decreased by 33 percent compared to last year, as per data from the Maldives Tourism Ministry reported by Maldivian website Adhadhu.

This decline coincides with the ongoing diplomatic tensions between New Delhi and Male. According to the Tourism Ministry’s 2023 statistics, 41,054 Indian tourists had visited the Maldives by March 4 last year. However, as of March 2 this year, only 27,224 Indian tourists had been recorded, reflecting a decrease of 13,830.

Last year, India held the second-largest market share for Maldivian tourism at 10 percent, but it has now dropped to sixth place with a six percent share.

The diplomatic rift emerged following derogatory comments made by three Maldivian deputy ministers about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep and his proposals for developing it as a beach tourism destination.

This led to a significant diplomatic confrontation, with New Delhi lodging a strong protest and summoning the Maldivian envoy. The three deputy ministers were subsequently suspended pending further action.

Additionally, concerns arose within the Maldives tourism industry as Indian celebrities lent support to a boycott campaign, prompting the Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) to conduct a survey on the impact of Indian booking cancellations. However, the survey findings were not disclosed publicly, as reported by Adhadhu.

Despite the decline in Indian tourism, the Maldives continues to attract visitors from other markets. China has now become the leading market, with over 54,000 tourist arrivals recorded this year, surpassing India’s historical dominance in the Maldivian tourism sector, which saw over 200,000 Indian tourists annually from 2021 to 2023.