Maldives plans to win back Indian tourists by organising roadshows in India

Synopsis

Maldives plans roadshows in Indian cities to attract back Indian tourists after a decline. The roadshows aim to partner with the Indian High Commission using official data from the Maldives Ministry of Tourism.

In a bid to attract and win back Indian tourists, a major tourism body of Maldives has announced plans to organise roadshows in famous Indian cities. The island nation saw a major dip in the arrival of Indian tourists after a boycott campaign by several Maldivian officials against the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January.

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But soon the Maldivian ministers realised their mistake as the Indian tourists number continued to decline in the middle of the strained political relations between the two nations. Now the nation is planning to rectify their mistake by conducting the roadshows. These roadshows will be hosted by the Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO).

The association said that the MATATO has expressed its intention to collaborate closely with the Indian High Commission in Maldives to boost tourism initiatives. They also said that there are plans to launch a comprehensive roadshow across major cities in India and to facilitate influencer and media familiarisation trips to the Maldives in the forthcoming months.

The association also said that India is a prime market for tourism in Maldives, adding that they look forward to partnering with prominent travel associations and industry stakeholders across India to enhance the Maldives as a premier travel destination.

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As per official data released by the Maldives Ministry of Tourism, the island nation also saw a dip in the number of Indian travellers visiting the island nation after the row.

Back in 2023, out of over 17 lakh tourists who came to Maldives, the majority were Indians (2,09,198). But, soon after the number of Indian tourists dipped to fifth position. However, now the Maldives is planning to woo Indians back.

So, back in January this year, PM Modi visited Lakshadweep and compared it to the Maldives. Soon after Maldivian ministers started making derogatory comments.