Maldives hopes to make India one of its top 3 tourism markets again: Ibrahim Shiuree

Which is the number one market for Maldives in terms of tourism footfall this year? Where does India figure?

India has been a significant contributor to Maldives’ tourism industry for many years, especially during the pandemic. Currently, it ranks sixth in our top 10 markets this year. The top market for the Maldives currently is China.

As of July 30, 2024, a total of 71,381 Indian travellers have visited Maldives — 6.1% of the overall tourist market share. We have high hopes that with activities such as this roadshow, we will be able to improve this figure even further and reinstate India among the top three markets.

What are the initiatives to boost tourism numbers back to last year’s, when over two lakh Indians visited Maldives, more than Chinese travelleres?

India is a significant market for Maldives’ tourism industry. We are employing a data-driven approach that covers everything: from promoting the destination to accommodations, services, and USPs in order to boost numbers from India. We are positioning Maldives as a year-round destination through strategic campaigns.

Maldives can be an attractive and affordable short-haul destination for Indian travellers, and we aim to solidify its position as the most-preferred holiday destination for Indian tourists through these initiatives.

Is there a plan to increase connectivity? Are more flights being planned?

Currently, there are five airlines flying directly between India and Maldives, operating multiple flights weekly. To further drive tourism growth in the market, we are actively exploring opportunities to increase flight connectivity by introducing additional direct flights from more Indian cities to various regions of the Maldives.

Do people from Maldives also visit India for tourism?

While Maldives is a premier tourist destination for Indians, Maldives is also a significant outbound market for the Indian tourism industry. Many Maldivians visit Indian cities like Bangalore, Cochin, and Trivandrum, primarily for medical tourism. India is a popular and trusted choice for Maldivians seeking advanced medical treatments.

Additionally, a considerable number of Maldivians also visit India for leisure and shopping. Ooty, for instance, which has a geography very different to Maldives, is a loved location for Maldivians to stop by on their way back home from cities more popular for shopping such as Bangalore or Mumbai.