Maldives\u2019 President Mohamed Muizzu is in India on a bilateral visit to mend his country\u2019s strained ties and restore the flow of Indian tourists to the island nation.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Mint<\/i> looks at the rise of outbound Indian tourists and their importance to countries such as Maldives.<\/p>\nAre Indian travellers continuing to boycott Maldives?<\/h2>\n
It seems so. According to data from the island nation\u2019s ministry of tourism, the flow of Indian tourists in the first six months of 2024 was down by 43%. India, which was the top source of tourists in 2023, has now dropped to sixth place. Last year, Indians made up 12% of the 1.7 million tourists who visited the Maldives, but this share has halved to 6% in 2024 do far.<\/p>\n
Read this | <\/i>Mint Explainer: What does Muizzu\u2019s election win mean for India-Maldives ties?<\/i><\/p>\n
The anti-India rhetoric in the Maldives has driven Indian tourists to other destinations like Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Georgia, as well as domestic spots like Lakshadweep.<\/p>\n
Has this affected tourism in Maldives?<\/strong><\/h2>\nIn absolute numbers, not much. In the first six month of 2024, Maldives registered a 10% increase in tourist arrivals. This was largely due to a resurgence of Chinese tourists, who made up for the largest number of visitors before 2020. Beyond China, tourists from Russia, the UK, Italy, and Germany make up the top five sources of visitors. (see chart)<\/p>\n
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