President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has appealed for China to become the top source market for tourists to the Maldives.
In his address at the Invest Maldives Forum that began this morning in Fuzhou city, capital of the Fujian province, President Muizzu said the government plans to diversify Maldives tourism and develop sports, medical and cultural tourism.
"China was our number one market pre-covid, and it is my request that we intensify efforts for China to regain this position," President Muizzu said.
Before the pandemic, China was the top tourist market in 2017 and 2018. More than 280,000 Chinese tourists visited the Maldives in 2019.
When the Maldives reopened borders amid the covid-19 pandemic, neighboring India became the top source market for tourists. China reopened the country's borders in January last year after a three-year closure.
A total of 187,118 Chinese tourists visited the Maldives last year.
The President's appeal for China to become the number one market comes amid a campaign in India calling for boycotting the Maldives in favor of Lakshadweep.
The Indian Chamber of Commerce has also called for Indian airlines to suspend flights and tour operators to stop selling packages in order to boycott the Maldives.
