'Please Be Part Of Our Tourism': Maldives' 'We Promote Peace' Request To Indians Amid Tense Ties

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Ibrahim Faisal requested Indians to contribute to the country's economy, which heavily relies on tourism.

Photo : iStock

New Delhi: As the number of Indian tourists visiting the Maldives has decreased amid strained ties with New Delhi, Ibrahim Faisal, the tourism minister of the island nation on Monday requested Indians to contribute to the country's economy, which heavily relies on tourism.

Speaking to news agency PTI, Maldivian Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal discussed the historical relations between the two countries.

"We have a history. Our newly elected government also wants to work together (with India). We always promote peace and a friendly environment. Our people and the government will give a warm welcome to Indian arrivals. As the Tourism Minister, I want to tell Indians to please be a part of Maldives' tourism. Our economy depends on tourism," he said.

Maldives faced backlash following derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media by three Maldivian ministers. These comments came after PM Modi shared photos and videos of the Lakshadweep Islands on India's west coast on January 6 on social media.

Several Indians, including celebrities, cancelled their reservations and bookings and dropped plans to visit the island nation. The tourism arrival statistics also showed a major shift, with India's position dropping from the topmost to the sixth position after January.

As per a recent report by sun.mv, the number of tourist arrivals from India decreased by 42 per cent in the first four months of this year compared to the same period last year. At the beginning of this year, India held the top position in the tourist market for the Maldives. However, shortly after this, India fell to sixth place among the top tourist markets, as reported by the news portal.

As per the Tourism Ministry statistics, as of May 4, Maldives had recorded a total of 43,991 tourist arrivals from India. During the period between January and April of the previous year, Maldives recorded 73,785 tourist arrivals from India, while this year the number stands at 42,638, PTI reported.

The report linked the decrease in Indian tourist numbers to tensions between India and the Maldives after President Mohamed Muizzu assumed office in November last year.

Relations between India and the Maldives have strained since President Muizzu, who is seen as favouring China, reiterated his election promise to remove Indian military personnel from his country after taking office in November. Shortly after assuming power, Muizzu called for the withdrawal of 88 Indian military personnel stationed at three aviation platforms provided by India to the Maldives.

(With inputs from PTI)