Maldives Topped Indian Travellers' Lists With Over 2 Lakh Visits In 2023 (IN PICS)

A massive debate sparked on the internet when the Maldives deputy minister and other cabinet ministers made critical remarks against India and PM Modi on his recent visit to Lakshadweep.

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Following an intense backlash from a neighbouring country, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu suspended three of his cabinet ministers.

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Despite President Muizzu's anti-India stance, the fast response is likely due to India's significant contribution to the Maldives' tourism industry.

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According to recent data from the Maldives tourism ministry, Indian tourists are the largest group of visitors to the Maldives until December 2023.

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According to the data, about 1,757,939 tourists visited Maldives till December 2023, showing a major 12.6% rise from 1.5 million arrivals in 2022.

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The Maldives had the most Indian tourists, with around 209,198, followed by Russia (209,146) and China (187,118).

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The statistics also revealed that Maldives tops many Indian travel lists for tourism, including Indian celebs.

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Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, from Oct to Dec 2020, around 32,000 people travelled in each direction.

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In the fourth quarter of 2021, a record 115,000 passengers flew from India to the Maldives, with direct flights averaging 1,250 daily.

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However, these figures dropped in 2022 following global restrictions being lifted and Indian tourists exploring other tourist destinations across the globe.

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