Seeking to reignite interest among Indian tourists, the Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) has unveiled plans to host roadshows across key cities in India.
The move comes amidst a decline in Indian tourist arrivals following a social media controversy earlier this year. After derogatory remarks were made against India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi by three Maldivian officials, many Indian travellers, including celebrities, opted to cancel their reservations to the Maldives. Consequently, India slipped from being a top visitor country to sixth place in tourism arrivals.
In a bid to reverse this trend, MATATO engaged in discussions with India's High Commissioner in the Maldives, Munu Mahawar, to explore ways to strengthen travel and tourism ties between the two nations. According to statistics from the Maldives’ Ministry of Tourism, as of April 10, India ranks sixth in tourist arrivals to the Maldives, with 37,417 visitors recorded this year.
Following discussions held at the Indian High Commission in Male, MATATO announced plans to collaborate closely with Indian authorities to boost tourism initiatives. This includes launching comprehensive road shows across key Indian cities and organising influencer and media familiarisation trips to the Maldives in the coming months.
Highlighting the significance of the Indian market, MATATO emphasised its commitment to partnering with prominent travel associations and industry stakeholders in India to promote the Maldives as a premier travel destination.
The association hailed its meeting with the Indian High Commissioner as a testament to its dedication to fostering robust tourism ties between the Maldives and India, paving the way for collaborations to drive sustainable growth in the region's tourism sector.
This initiative follows an earlier diplomatic row when Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu requested the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from the country, citing sovereignty concerns. Muizzu has pledged that no Indian military personnel will remain in the Maldives after May 10.