The Maldives tourism sector, once a top choice for Indian holidaymakers, is making concerted efforts to win back travellers from India. This push comes after the island nation observed a significant decline in Indian visitors, spurred by a social media incident where Maldivian officials made derogatory comments about India and its Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.

The Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) is spearheading this initiative by planning to conduct road shows in several major Indian cities. These events aim to mend ties and promote the Maldives as an ideal vacation spot. In addition, MATATO has expressed a desire to enhance tourism collaboration with India during discussions with India's high commissioner in the Maldives, Munu Mahawar.

Despite traditionally being one of the Maldives' largest tourist markets, India recently fell to the sixth position in terms of visitor numbers, overtaken by countries like China and the United Kingdom. To address this, MATATO is not only focusing on road shows but also planning influencer and media familiarisation trips in the upcoming months.

This renewed focus on attracting Indian tourists is part of a broader strategy to strengthen bilateral ties and boost the tourism sector, which is crucial for the Maldives' economy. The initiative reflects both nations' interests in maintaining strong travel and tourism relations, despite recent political tensions.