Maldives minister hits back at Sri Lankan counterpart over tourism comparison

Maldivian tourism minister Dr Abdulla Mausoom on Sunday hit back at his Sri Lankan counterpart Harin Fernando for his remarks at the ITB Berlin fair last week where he compared the tourism industries of the two neighbours. 

Fernando criticised the Maldives at a press conference held at the ITB fair, highlighting the reasons why tourists should go to Sri Lanka.

“I know lots of people go to Maldives. Maldives just have the beach, I’m not criticising. But you stay there for five days and you get fed up of it," Fernando said. 

Noting that unlike the Maldives, there are so many places to go and activities to do in Sri Lanka, Fernando said that tourists in Sri Lanka can experience a lot more.

The minister has been criticised not only by Maldivians but also by Sri Lankans for making such remarks about a neighbouring country.

At a time when Harin's comments about the Maldives have disgruntled the people, Mausoom made an indirect tweet about it Sunday evening. 

The Maldives, which has been awarded the world's leading tourist destination title by the World Travel Awards in 2020, 2021 and 2022, is the "benchmark" for world-class tourism, the Maldivian minister said.

"Thanks to developers & service providers for making Maldives simply the best and #addictive!! If jealous & in doubt please ask the #Mirror again & again," his tweet read.

Harin's remarks as a minister of a neighbouring country have drawn criticism from locals as well as some Sri Lankans.

Many noted that Maldives tourism and Sri Lanka's tourism were different and the target markets of the two countries were different. Some even said that in such a big fair, a neighbouring country should be talked about with dignity and diplomatic principles.

"It is not necessary to criticise the Maldives to 'Promote Sri Lanka'... Maldives is a luxury tourism destination. It is a completely different kind of tourism [from Sri Lanka's tourism]. Sri Lanka is also beautiful as Sri Lanka," a local tweeted.