In a recent report by the Maldives Tourism Ministry, India has retained its position as the primary tourist market for the Maldives in the year 2023. The data revealed that India witnessed the highest number of arrivals, with 209,198 tourists, followed by Russia in the second position with 209,146 arrivals and China securing the third spot with 187,118 arrivals.
This pattern echoes the statistics from the previous year, where India also dominated the Maldives tourism sector in 2022, recording 240,000 arrivals. Russia and the United Kingdom secured the second and third positions, respectively, in the 2022 tourism rankings.
Despite being a favored destination for Indian tourists, recent derogatory comments made by three Maldivian ministers against Prime Minister Modi have sparked controversy. This has led to a significant number of Indian travelers canceling their plans to visit the Maldives. The three ministers involved in the controversy have been suspended from their ministerial roles.
The situation escalated when, in response to Prime Minister Modi’s snorkeling expedition in the Arabian Sea, inappropriate language targeting Modi was used by the Maldivian ministers. The incident triggered a debate on social media comparing the serenity of Lakshadweep to the Maldives.
In response, the Maldivian Foreign Ministry acknowledged the derogatory remarks but clarified that these expressions are personal and do not reflect the official stance of the Maldivian government. The government emphasized the importance of exercising freedom of expression responsibly, without spreading negativity or jeopardizing international relationships.
