Maldivian President Muizzu expressed desire for more Indian tourists to visit the island nation

Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, while addressing a press conference on Oct 7, said that India is one of the country's main sources of tourists and expressed his desire for more Indian travelers to come to the island nation.

"The links between the Maldives and India are "centuries-old, as evident throughout our histories," Muizzu added after having "extensive" conversations with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

A 'Boycott Maldives' movement on the internet had gained momentum in January 2024 following a few Maldivian ministers' remarks against Prime Minister Modi.

Celebrities and other Indians resorted to social media to encourage travelers to visit picturesque locations like Lakshadweep following Modi's visit.

"Our people-to-people connections have long been the foundations of the relationship between India and the Maldives. Many Maldivians travel to India for tourism, for medical purposes, education, and for many other reasons," Muizzu said.

The Maldivian president said the country is home to a sizable Indian population that contributes to the country's growth.

"India is one of our largest tourism source markets, and we hope to welcome more Indian tourists to the Maldives, allowing for shared growth and understanding between our peoples," Muizzu added.

The Maldives are well-known for their abundance of immaculate white sand beaches and stunning scenery. An important part of the nation's economy is the tourism industry.

The goal of Muizzu's first bilateral visit to India, since he became president in 2023 on the "India out" campaign, is to mend fences that had previously become strained.

Since Muizzu assumed government in Nov 2023, the Maldives and India have had strained relations due to Muizzu's pro-China stance.

After Muizzu moved to strengthen defense and military cooperation with Turkey and China and demanded that India withdraw more than 80 Indian military personnel stationed in the archipelago to operate three aircraft, relations further degraded.

However, Muizzu was invited to Modi's swearing-in ceremony in June, which suggested a thawing of tensions. By that time, India had brought in civilian professionals to replace the military staff, and work was still being done on several development projects that the country supported.

Infuriations were also eased by the foreign ministers of the two countries' reciprocal visits, and in Sep 2024, two Maldivian deputy ministers resigned after stirring controversy with remarks they made online that were interpreted as disparaging of Modi.

Prime Minister Modi and President Muizzu met at the Hyderabad House and "comprehensively reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral ties while noting the progress made by both countries in deepening their historically close and special relationship," the MEA said in a statement.

“The two leaders acknowledged that it was an opportune time for both sides to chart a new framework for cooperation to comprehensively transform the bilateral relationship into a Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership, which is people-centric, future-oriented, and will act as an anchor of stability in the Indian Ocean Region,” it added.

“Both the leaders have decided to enhance efforts to boost tourism between the two countries through marketing campaigns and collaborative efforts," the MEA said.

"Looking ahead, we are fully committed to strengthening our cooperation with India across a broad spectrum of areas, including high-level exchanges that foster deeper understanding and friendship between our nations," Muizzu said.

Inviting PM Modi to the Maldives, he said, "Next year, we will be marking the 60th anniversary of the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between our two countries. I have invited Prime Minister Modi to undertake a state visit to the Maldives to commemorate this occasion.”

Muizzu said, "The Maldives will remain a true friend committed to our shared vision of peace and development of our countries and our region.”

The two countries deliberated a possible trade agreement for a resumption of bilateral relations. India committed to giving the Maldives financial support totaling more than ₹6,300 crores to weather a foreign exchange crisis.

Modi said that India is the Maldives' "nearest neighbour and steadfast friend" and that it will keep helping with everything from infrastructure development to defense and development cooperation.