Indian film stars return to Maldives for holidays after brief hiatus

After a period of reduced visits from Indian film stars, the Maldives is once again seeing an increase in high-profile visitors from the Indian entertainment industry. Prominent Bollywood stars and TV personalities have been choosing the Maldives as their preferred holiday destination, with some even celebrating birthdays, wedding anniversaries, and other special occasions in the tropical paradise.

Indian film stars, particularly Bollywood celebrities, command large followings on social media, making their visits significant for the Maldives’ tourism industry. India has long been an important market for the Maldives, and the renewed interest from Indian stars is a positive sign for the sector.

Earlier this year, there had been a noticeable decline in visits from Indian celebrities following a social media campaign in India calling for a boycott of the Maldives. The campaign was sparked by political tensions between the two countries. A boycott movement urged Indians to consider alternative destinations like Lakshadweep for their holidays instead of the Maldives.

However, the situation has begun to improve, with an increasing number of Indian film stars returning to the Maldives over the past few months, suggesting a shift in sentiment and strengthened relations between the two countries.

In response, India has also conducted roadshows in key cities to promote Maldives tourism, further helping to restore ties between the two countries. Maldivian Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal acknowledged the importance of the Indian market and emphasised ongoing efforts to attract more tourists from India.

The resurgence of Indian celebrities visiting the Maldives will undoubtedly boost the country’s tourism sector. As of last month, India was the sixth-largest source of tourists to the Maldives, with nearly 90,000 Indian tourists visiting the archipelago by the end of September.