Maldives Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal to visit India

Maldives Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal is slated to visit India today to kick off a series of tourism roadshows under the "Welcome India" initiative. The campaign aims to reinforce the Maldives' status as a prime holiday destination for Indian travellers through a series of events in three major cities.

The roadshow schedule is the following:

1. New Delhi: July 30, 2024

2. Mumbai: August 1, 2024

3. Bangalore: August 3, 2024

This strategic campaign seeks to strengthen tourism ties between the Maldives and India, showcasing the archipelago nation's attractions to potential Indian visitors.

Earlier in May this year, the island nation's tourism minister urged Indians to contribute to the country's economy, which is dependent on tourism.

"Please be a part of the Maldives'



tourism. Our economy depends on tourism," Maldivian tourism minister Ibrahim Faisal had appealed to Indian tourists.

Indian tourists to the Maldives dipped by 42% in the first four months of this year in comparison to the same period in 2023. However, earlier last year, the scenario was quite different. Indian tourists were the highest foreign visitors to the Maldives in 2023, and China was in third place.

As per the data, the Maldives received 73,785 tourists from India between January and April 2023. On the other hand, the island nation recorded 42,638 tourist arrivals in the same period this year — a decline of 31,147 tourists in absolute terms.

Statistics show 15,006 Indians visited the island nation in January 2024. In February, 11,252 Indian tourists visited the island nation, as compared to 24,632 tourists the same month last year.