‘Welcome India’ event to propel India to third place in Maldives tourist arrivals: Faisal

The Welcome India tourism promotional event, held in three Indian cities last week, is expected to elevate India to the third-largest source of tourist arrivals to the Maldives, according to Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal.

The event, organised jointly by the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) and the Maldives Association of Travel Agents & Tour Operators (MATATO), took place in New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore. It was part of an effort to address the decline in Indian tourist arrivals following the controversy involving defamation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi by several Maldivian government deputy ministers.

Faisal, speaking at the MMPRC office on Thursday, highlighted the significant attention the event received from both the tourism industry and the media in India. Key outcomes of the event included:

• New clients secured by Maldivian resort operators from the Indian market
• Participation of a large number of Indian tour operators in the roadshow
• Meetings with the Indian Tourism Minister and Civil Aviation Minister, leading to agreements aimed at boosting tourist arrivals at a governmental level

Faisal noted that the Welcome India roadshow garnered positive media coverage in India, with strong attendance and successful engagements by Maldivian tourism groups, including Sun Siyam Resorts. Despite a 42% drop in Indian tourist arrivals this year, Faisal expressed optimism that these efforts would help position India among the top three source markets for the Maldives.

The minister emphasised the need for collective efforts to achieve this goal, pointing out that India is a nearby and promising market for Maldivian tourism. While millions of Indian tourists travel abroad annually, the Maldives has yet to fully capitalize on this potential. The aim is to attract one million Indian tourists to the Maldives within the next five years, with plans that include:

• Increasing flight connections between India and the Maldives
• Appointing Indian influencers as ambassadors to promote the Maldives on social media
• Showcasing the Maldives in Indian film productions

Faisal also mentioned ongoing efforts to improve relations between India and the Maldives, indicating that further initiatives would be undertaken to strengthen ties. He met with a major Indian tour operator who had halted bookings for the Maldives, expressing hope that the company would resume its operations in the Maldives.

Faisal reiterated that the current government, under President Mohamed Muizzu, aims to foster positive relations with all countries. He noted that tourism serves as a key connector between nations. Additionally, Faisal announced plans to enable transactions in Indian rupees for Indian tourists and investors in the Maldives, with the introduction of services like Rupee cards.