Chinese tourists get roses, Indians deported…Maldives

Amidst the ongoing tension between India and Maldives, President Muizzu’s government has deported 43 Indians. The Muizzu government claims that these Indians have violated visa rules and were involved in drug crimes. He said that illegal activities were going on in Maldives and they were being stopped. Maldives has taken this step at a time when its tension with India is at its peak. Apart from Indians, Maldives has deported a total of 186 foreigners including 25 Sri Lankans. Meanwhile, while the people of India are being expelled, the Muizzu government is giving a red carpet welcome to Chinese tourists. Not only this, China’s Xiamen Airlines has started charter flights between Maldives and China.

Earlier, Muizzu had gone on a visit to China and had requested President Xi Jinping to send as many tourists as possible. After this request, China is now sending its tourists to Maldives at a very fast pace. Leaving India behind, most of the tourists from China are now reaching Maldives. On one hand, while Chinese tourists are increasing in Maldives, the number of Indian tourists has declined. This reduction has come when Maldivian ministers made derogatory remarks on PM Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep and Indians gave a befitting reply to it.

Tourists from China are reaching Maldives in droves

The first charter flight of China’s Xiamen Airlines arrived in Maldives with 236 passengers. These Chinese tourists were welcomed with roses at the airport in Maldives. Maldives Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal himself was present along with top officials to welcome these Chinese. After the launch of Xiamen Air flights, the number of airlines coming to Maldives from China has increased to four. Beijing Capital Airlines, China Eastern Airlines and Sichuan Airlines also operate flights to the Maldives. After his visit to China last month, President Mohammed Muizzu had appealed to China to become the largest sending country of tourists to Maldives.

Muizzu had said, ‘China was our number one market before Covid, and my request is that we make efforts to bring China back to this position.’ The Muizzu government aims to attract a record 20 lakh tourists in the year 2024. As of February 13, the number of Chinese tourists arriving in the Maldives stood at 40,892, accounting for 13.9 percent of total arrivals. On one hand, while Chinese tourists are going to Maldives, on the other hand, Sri Lanka is now becoming the favorite destination of Indian tourists.