Maldives urges Indians to 'be a part' of its tourism, says country's economy 'depends' on it - Times of India

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NEW DELHI: The Maldivian

tourism minister

, Ibrahim Faisal, has appealed to

Indian tourists

to continue visiting the archipelago nation, emphasising the historical ties between the two countries.

In an interview with PTI Videos, Faisal stated, "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."

The minister's plea comes amidst a significant decline in Indian tourist arrivals following derogatory remarks made by three Maldivian officials against India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media.

The backlash led to numerous cancellations and a drop in India's position from the top visitor country to the sixth position after January. According to a report by sun.mv, tourist arrivals from India declined by 42 per cent in the first four months of this year compared to the same period last year.

The strained relations between India and the Maldives have been attributed to the new administration led by President Mohamed Muizzu, who is widely seen as a pro-China leader.

Since assuming office in November last year, Muizzu has maintained his election promise of evicting Indian military personnel from the Maldives, forcing the withdrawal of 88 Indian military personnel manning three aviation platforms gifted by India. Muizzu has previously accused India of meddling in the affairs of the Maldives and won the presidential elections in September last year with an "India Out" campaign.

Despite the current challenges, the Maldives remains a key maritime neighbour for India in the Indian Ocean Region and holds a special place in India's initiatives like 'SAGAR' and the 'Neighbourhood First Policy' of the Modi government. The Maldivian tourism minister's appeal highlights the importance of maintaining strong

bilateral ties

and the significance of Indian tourists for the Maldivian economy.

(With inputs from agencies)