Where is India if China tops the Maldives tourist list?

Where is India if China tops the Maldives tourist list?

China

Maldives Controversy: China tops the list of the "Top 10 Markets" for Maldives tourism, according to the most recent statistics made public by the Maldives Ministry of Tourism. India, however, is still ranked sixth on the list.

Presidents Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives and Xi Jinping of China are seen walking together at a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on January 10, 2024.

In February 2024, China surpassed Italy and Russia to occupy the top spot on the Maldives tourist ranking. As to a daily report issued by the Maldives, China rose from third position to the top of the "Top 10 Markets 2024" list. Tourism Ministry.

According to a survey published on February 3, China has the highest market share at 11.2 percent. Figures up until February 11 are included in the ministry's most recent report, which was made public on Monday. The survey states that while China is still in the lead, its market share has slightly decreased to 10.8%.

China's official media, Global Times, acknowledged the most recent statistics and said, "China has once again emerged as the country sending the most number of visitors to the Maldives. The Maldives and China signed a visa-exempt deal in February of last year. "On Sunday, the Maldives admitted a record 10,213 tourists, surpassing the 9,000 mark in 2019."

However, 10,213 visitors arrived in the Maldives on Saturday, February 10, according to figures from the Maldivian government. This year's record number of visitors to the island country was reached with this arrival.

China versus India: This year's Maldives tourist trends

China saw a rise in visitors to the Maldives last month, but Indian tourists declined.

December 31, 2023: As of December 31 of last year, India was rated #1 in the Maldives' "Top 10 Markets 2023" list, with an 11.1 percent share of the tourist industry. Third on the list was China.

January 16, 2024: In a graphic displaying the 'Top 10 Markets 2024' for Maldives tourism, China lagged behind India. India was ranked fourth, while China was ranked sixth.

On January 21, 2024, China surpassed India as the country with the most tourists visiting the Maldives. China rose to the top spot, while India dropped to fifth.

January 30: By January 30, 2024, China has a 9.8% market share and was placed third in terms of Maldives tourism, according to an official study that was made public at the end of January. Italy and Russia were ranked first and second, respectively. India came in fifth place on this ranking.

February 3: China topped the list with an 11.2 percent market share, while India was still ranked fifth.

Maldives tourist trends are changing

Notably, within the last several years, the Maldives has seen a shift in the dynamics of tourism. In 2023, one of the Maldives' main tourism destinations was India. Prior to 2020, Chinese visitors were the Maldives' top source of tourists. India began sending more visitors to the Maldives in 2020 than China did.

China accounted for the largest percentage of the "Top Ten Market Arrivals" in the Maldives in January 2020, with 18.31%. India, with a 7.99% share, came in third place. The Maldives saw a spike in Indian immigration in 2020.

Maldives-India diplomatic conflict

Some political officials in the Maldives used "derogatory words" against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the Indian Lakshadweep islands, which sparked a diplomatic disagreement between the two countries. Click here to learn more about the dispute in full.

President Muizzu of the Maldives has officially requested that India remove all 88 of its military soldiers from his nation. Muizzu had previously said that the troops will be removed by May 10 and that the first batch of Indian soldiers would be taken back by March 10.

In the meanwhile, India said that it will substitute "competent" Indian technical staff for the military troops in charge of its three aircraft platforms. "I would like to say that the existing personnel are going to be replaced by capable Indian technical personnel," PTI reported spokesman for the External Affairs Ministry Randhir Jaiswal as saying.

Concerns about China's growing military might in the Indo-Pacific area are also growing on a global scale. Since pro-China President Mohammed Muizzu assumed office in November, Beijing has increased its financial commitment to the Maldives.

In the meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was cited by AFP as stating that the strategically significant Indian Ocean nation of Maldives, which has taken out large loans from the US and shifted its allegiance from India, is very vulnerable to a "debt crisis".