Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu on Saturday extended his heartfelt appreciation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that the Indian leader’s recent visit would significantly contribute to the Maldives’ booming tourism sector.
President Muizzu acknowledged India’s critical role in supporting the Maldives’ tourism industry and expressed optimism that bilateral ties, especially people-to-people connections, would grow stronger following PM Modi’s visit. “India is one of the key contributors to Maldives’ tourism. With Prime Minister Modi’s visit, we expect a boost in tourist arrivals, and our people-to-people relationship will further deepen,” said Muizzu during a media interaction.
Echoing similar sentiments, Maldives’ Minister of Tourism and Environment, Thoriq Ibrahim, highlighted the positive outlook for the sector. “We’re targeting 2.3 million tourist arrivals this year. So far, we’ve already welcomed 1.2 million, and a large portion of this—over one million tourists—have come from India,” he said, speaking to ANI.
He further noted that with the Velana International Airport expansion and PM Modi’s goodwill gesture, the number of Indian tourists is likely to rise further.
When asked about his plans to visit India, President Muizzu responded positively, “I do hope to visit India—whether later this year or sometime soon in the near future.”
The remarks signal a warming tone in Maldives-India relations and underscore the significant role of tourism diplomacy in fostering regional ties.