Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Mohamed Ameen has received Indian High Commissioner to the Maldives H.E. G. Balasubramanian for a courtesy call.
Discussions focused on strengthening tourism cooperation between the two countries, improving air connectivity and exploring further opportunities to support the continued growth of the Maldivian tourism industry.
The meeting also highlighted the importance of India as a major regional tourism market and the potential for closer cooperation in destination promotion, aviation, investment and tourism-related infrastructure.
Official figures show that 130,805 Indian tourists visited the Maldives in 2024, followed by 131,625 in 2025. A further 62,932 Indian tourists arrived during the first six months of 2026, bringing the total for the two-and-a-half-year period to 325,362 visitors.
Nationality-specific bed-night figures are not published in the official arrival summaries. However, based on an indicative average stay of seven nights, Indian tourists are estimated to have generated approximately 2.28 million bed nights in the Maldives during the period.
India has also supported tourism-related development through its assistance for the development of Hanimaadhoo and Gan international airports. The projects are expected to strengthen regional connectivity and provide greater access to international tourism markets.
Under the Maldives–India Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership adopted in October 2024, the two countries agreed to strengthen air connectivity, promote tourism investments, conduct collaborative marketing activities and maximise the potential of airports developed with Indian assistance.
The latest discussions are expected to further advance these commitments and create new opportunities to increase visitor flows, improve connectivity and support sustainable tourism growth in the Maldives.
