Pres calls for intensified efforts to regain China's top spot in Maldives tourism

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu on Tuesday called on tourism stakeholders in Maldives and China to intensify efforts to regain China's position as the single biggest source market for Maldives tourism. 

He made the statement while delivering his remarks at the Invest Maldives Forum at the Fuzhou Strait International Convention and Exhibition Centre in Fuzhou, China.

China was the single biggest source market for Maldives before Covid-19.

Tourists from China began arriving in Maldives again in January 2023 after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic. The Maldives welcomed 187,118 Chinese tourists in 2023. 

"... it is my request that we intensify efforts for China to regain this position," the president said. 

The president's remarks come amid a diplomatic row between the Maldives and India, which has been the biggest tourist source market over the past three years. 

Authorities in Maldives on Sunday suspended three deputy ministers who had come under fire for their posts on X in which they are seen verbally abusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India.

Last Thursday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a video of his recent visit to Lakshadweep to promote tourism in the region.

Some Indians have said that Modi's video was released to tell people that Indians do not have to go to Maldives for holidays and can experience the beauty of Maldives while staying in their own country.

The threat quickly got out of hand, and comments that were highly inappropriate to make against one’s neighbouring country started appearing. People also started racially criticising Indians. Maryam Shiuna and Malsha Shareef, who are deputies in the youth ministry, took the cake when they insulted the Indian prime minister himself.

Both Maldives and India summoned each other's envoys on Monday as the row escalated into a tourism boycott campaign against the Maldives.