Seeking to revive tourism ties with Bharat, the Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators or MATATO has unveiled plans to conduct road shows across key Indian cities. This initiative comes in the wake of dwindling Indian tourist numbers following a diplomatic spat triggered by derogatory social media remarks against Bharat and Prime Minister Narendra Modi by three Maldivian officials.
MATATO recently engaged in discussions with India’s High Commissioner in the Maldives, Munu Mahawar, to explore avenues for enhancing travel and tourism cooperation between the two nations. The tourism body expressed its commitment to collaborating closely with the Indian High Commission to boost tourism initiatives.
Following a meeting at the Indian High Commission in Male, MATATO announced its intention to launch comprehensive road shows and facilitate influencer and media familiarisation trips to the Maldives in the coming months. Emphasising Bharat’s significance as a crucial tourist market, MATATO aims to forge partnerships with prominent travel associations and industry stakeholders to promote the Maldives as a premier travel destination.
The association views its meeting with the Indian High Commissioner as a testament to its dedication to fostering robust tourism ties between the Maldives and Bharat. These efforts are envisioned to drive sustainable growth in the region’s tourism sector.
The diplomatic tensions between the Maldives and Bharat, highlighted by President Mohamed Muizzu’s request for the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from the country, have highlighted the complexities in the bilateral relationship. However, MATATO remains focused on leveraging tourism as a means to strengthen ties and foster mutual understanding between the two nations.
