Maldives Sees Decline in Indian Tourists; Lakshadweep Numbers Surge
Image Source: Times of India
During the April to June quarter, a peak travel period in India, Agatti handled 22,990 passengers, nearly doubling the 11,074 passengers from the same period in 2023. India-Maldives diplomatic relations have been strained since the new government led by Mohamed Muizzu took power last year. This tension sparked social media campaigns urging a boycott of the Maldives, which had recently become a popular destination for Indians due to better connectivity.
While diplomatic efforts continued, Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep in January this year sparked a shift, encouraging Indian travelers to choose Lakshadweep over the Maldives. As a result, the Maldives has seen a significant decline in Indian tourists, with numbers dropping sharply. Meanwhile, the addition of more flights to Agatti, Lakshadweep, has led to a surge in passenger traffic.
During the April to June quarter, Agatti airport handled 22,990 passengers, almost doubling the 11,074 passengers from the same period last year. In contrast, data from the Maldives’ Ministry of Tourism shows that Indian tourists numbered only 28,604 in the April to June quarter this year, a sharp decline from 54,207 during the same period last year—a nearly 50% drop. The data also indicates that Muizzu’s appeal to China for more tourists has been successful, with China becoming the top source of tourists, sending 1.2 lakh visitors in the first half of 2024.
Indian tourist numbers fell to 63,450, a 42.5% decrease, placing India as the sixth-largest market for Maldivian tourism. Overall, tourist arrivals in the Maldives increased by 9.2% in the first half of 2024 compared to the previous year, but the Indian boycott has had a noticeable impact on the declining Indian tourist numbers.
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