The Maldives government aims to attract 300,000 Indian tourists this year. To help achieve this goal, the tourism ministry is planning cricket camps during the summer

T P VENU i MALE ‘

The flight from Mumbai to Male, the capital of the Maldives, was full of newlywed couples. Indians have begun returning to the nation of islands—though it is not just an island nation, it comprises 1,200 islands. Travel tech platform EaseMyTrip, which had suspended flight bookings to the Maldives in January 2024 due to a diplomatic row, has now resumed bookings following improved bilateral ties between the two governments.

Tourist arrivals from India are improving daily, according to Riyaz, manager of Chuck’z Beach Guest House on Dharavandoo Island in Baa Atoll. Roadshows organized by the Tourism Ministry in Indian cities, a visit from the Maldivian President to New Delhi, and targeted efforts by the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) to attract Indian tourists are proving effective.

The number of Indian tourists fell from 209,193 in 2023 to 130,805 in 2024. By the end of February 2025, Indian tourists held a market share of 4.7%, and officials are optimistic that 2025 will be a turnaround year. The Maldives government aims to attract 300,000 Indian tourists this year. To help achieve this goal, the tourism ministry is planning cricket camps during the summer. “The worst is behind us. Slowly but steadily, Indians are coming back,” says Mohammed Ali, a souvenir shop owner in Male.

India and the Maldives have maintained close ties, with the island nation holding a special position in India's 'Neighbourhood First' foreign policy, which seeks to promote stability and prosperity in the Indian Ocean region (IOR).The number of Indian tourists visiting the Maldives was a mere 10,616 in 2000 and surged to 291,000 in 2021. The Maldivian government is committed to ensuring that Indian tourists reach the 300,000 mark this year. With the improvement in relations between the countries, this target could very well be achieved in 2025.