The Maldives & India Reaffirm Ties – India a Key Tourism Source Market Too

Abdulla Shahid, the Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs, visited India and met Dr. S Jaishankar, the Indian Minister of Foreign Affairs, in April 2021 and reaffirmed the longstanding friendship between the two nations. In an interview with ANI, Abdulla Shahid even termed India as a “first responder and our best friend”. During his meeting with Dr. S Jaishankar, bilateral relations and ongoing projects were reviewed; this follows a similar meeting by both ministers in the Maldives in February this year.

While relations between these two countries remain strong, also of note is that India has become the top source market in terms of tourist arrivals to the Maldives. Family resorts including the likes of Anantara Dhigu Maldives Resort are amongst the available accommodation options which have seen a steady increase in guest arrivals since the country reopened its borders. In fact, as of February 2021, 23% of arrivals to this Indian Ocean nation were from India.