India cricket team tourism pact on hold for talks, Maldives says
India had been the Maldives’ top tourist market, but it has since dropped to sixth place.
Tourism Minister Thoriq Ibrahim said on Wednesday that discussions are ongoing regarding certain aspects of the agreement signed between the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) and Indian Premier League (IPL) team Mumbai Indians.
The agreement, announced last month, is part of a broader effort to promote Maldives tourism in the Indian market. However, the initiative has not yet been implemented, leading to speculation on social media regarding its status.
Addressing these concerns during a press conference at the President’s Office, Thoriq confirmed that the agreement has not been cancelled but postponed due to unresolved financial matters.
“We are in further negotiations with Mumbai Indians. Our aim is to secure broader marketing access and incorporate more detailed campaign components beyond high-level exposure,” he said.
The minister added that efforts are underway to engage well-known Indian film personalities to further promote the Maldives to Indian travellers.
“We will soon begin working with some of India’s major film stars. Promotional activities are planned across various regions of India, including Mumbai, South India and North India,” he said.
The Ministry of Tourism has also outlined multiple initiatives targeting the Indian market:
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A joint promotion with Indian airline IndiGo
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Campaigns in partnership with e-commerce platforms
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Media familiarisation tours
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Marketing through digital applications
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Visit Maldives Week events in several cities: Mumbai, Indore, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Raipur, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bangalore
MMPRC previously stated that the agreement with Mumbai Indians would include:
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Promotional activities across India featuring the team
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Advertising of tourism offers through the team’s channels
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Utilising the IPL platform to promote Maldives tourism
At the time of the announcement, MMPRC Managing Director Ibrahim Shiuree said the partnership would support efforts to attract 200,000 tourists from India this year. He noted that cricket, particularly the IPL, has widespread appeal in India and the region.
India had been the Maldives’ top tourist market, but it has since dropped to sixth place. According to Ministry of Tourism data, 38,850 Indian tourists visited the Maldives as of the 20th of this month, representing 5% of total arrivals. The decrease follows a decline last year attributed to public calls for a boycott of the Maldives.
