Sharp drop in number of Indian tourists to Maldives in 2024 after diplomatic row

Sharp drop in number of Indian tourists to Maldives in 2024 after diplomatic row

Fewer Indians travelled to the Maldives in the first three months of this year, data has revealed. The drop in the number of Indian tourists visiting the Indian Ocean nation comes against the backdrop of a diplomatic row between Delhi and Male.

According to tourism statistics from Maldivian authorities, a total of 34,847 Indians visited the Maldives between January to March this year. This was a sharp 38 per cent drop from last year when more than 56,000 tourists visited the Maldives during the same period.

A total of 12,792 Indians (7.1 per cent of the total population) visited the island nation in January 2024, the statistics revealed.Â

In February, a total of 11,522 Indian tourists visited the Maldives, as compared to a total of 19,497 the same month last year.Â

In March this year, only 8,322 Indians visited the nation, as compared to a total of 18,099 during the same month in 2023.Â

The data comes following an ‘India Out’ campaign by Maldivian president Mohamed Muizzu and the subsequent ‘Boycott Maldives’ trend that gained popularity on social media in India.Â

Later, the ‘Visit Lakshadweep’ trend gained popularity on the internet after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Lakshadweep islands.

The data also shows a steady rise in Indians visiting the island nation in recent years. According to the data, 1 lakh Indians visited the Maldives in 2018. The number increased to 1.6 lakh in 2019.Â

In 2021, the number of Indian tourists to the Maldives increased to 2.91 lakh, as the country eased its Covid-19 restrictions.Â

The recent diplomatic row between India and the Maldives erupted after three deputy ministers of the Maldives posted derogatory comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, folllowing the latter’s visit to Lakshadweep.

President Muizzu suspended the three ministers over their social media postings that stirred concerns in India and sparked a boycott call on social media.