Saturday, August 3, 2024 The Maldives shifts its stance on India, embracing tourism ties and economic cooperation, as India’s External Affairs Minister plans a visit to the archipelago. After nearly nine months, the Maldivian government has shifted from its anti-India stance. This change is evident in several actions, such as the decision to use Dornier aircraft (gifted by India) for medical evacuation and the launch of roadshows titled ‘Welcome India’ in India to attract Indian tourists.
External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar is scheduled to visit the Maldives next weekend. The primary reason for this shift appears to be economic.
The Maldives has seen a decline in Indian tourist arrivals, and India has postponed a $50 million loan. Additionally, there is growing concern among Maldivians about Chinese investments, with uncertainty surrounding whether loans have been extended by five years or merely replaced with softer terms. Meanwhile, President Muizzu has acknowledged India’s role in evacuating foreign nationals and stated that Indian military personnel have been replaced by civilians.
This is notable considering that, on his first day in office, Muizzu had pledged to expel Indian troops from the country. These 88 Indian troops had been primarily stationed to manage two Dornier aircraft and a helicopter, but they have now been replaced by Indian civilians. In a significant turn of events, the Maldives is now actively courting Indian tourists with its ‘Welcome India’ campaign, a stark contrast to the previous ‘India-out’ campaign.
India remains a crucial market for Maldivian tourism, with nearly 63,451 Indian tourists visiting by June 2024, representing about 6.2% of the total share. This comes after some Indians initiated a ‘boycott Maldives’ campaign following derogatory remarks made by a Maldivian lawmaker against PM Modi last year.
The Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation, in collaboration with the Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators and the National Hotels and Guesthouses Association of Maldives, is organizing ‘Welcome India’ roadshows in Mumbai and Bengaluru. In other news, India is set to open an embassy in Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The ministry also announced that President Droupadi Murmu will embark on a six-day visit to three nations, including Timor-Leste, New Zealand, and Fiji, starting August 5.
She will be in Dili on August 10 at the invitation of President Jose Ramos-Horta. Meanwhile, Timor-Leste has also announced plans to open its embassy in Delhi..
