Amid India-Maldives row, President Muizzu seeks China's support to boost tourism
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu
Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu urged China to "intensify efforts" in sending more Chinese tourists, as a diplomatic row continued over derogatory remarks by Maldivian politicians against Indian PM Narendra Modi for promoting Lakshadweep as a destination for Indian tourists.
"China was our (Maldives') number one market pre-Covid, and it is my request that we intensify efforts for China to regain this position," Muizzu told the Maldives Business Forum in Fujian Province on Tuesday (Jan 9) during his official visit to China, as per an official readout.
His remarks came in the wake of Maldivian ministers' derogatory remarks against India which triggered sharp reactions from Indians to boycott the island country as a tourism destination.
Notably, there has been a slew of travel cancellations to the Maldives by Indian tourists following the diplomatic row where one of the sitting ministers of Muizzu's government passed unwelcomecomments against Indian PM Modi.
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Muizzu, who is known for his pro-China stance, is on a five-day state visit to China.
During his Tuesday (Jan 9) address, the Maldivian president said, "China remains one of our closest allies and development partners."
He even went on to appreciate China'sBelt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects launched in 2014 in the archipelago nation in the Indian Ocean.
Muizzu said that these initiatives "delivered the most significant infrastructure projects witnessed in Maldivian history".
It is also reported in Maldivian media that China and Maldives signed a USD 50 million project to develop an integrated tourism zone in Maldives.
After the row following PM Modi's visit to Lakshadweep, Muizzu's government suspended three deputy ministers who made abusive posts against India.
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Meanwhile, in India, the number of inquiries for travel to Lakshadweep has increased.
Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) President, Jyoti Mayal told WION that Maldives' Tour Operators and Travel Associations, in a letter to the organisation, have distanced themselves from the remarks by the sitting minister of Maldives.
Notably, India was the largest contributor to the Maldives tourist market in 2023.
(With inputs from agencies)