A simple post to promote an Indian tourism destination seemed to have unfortunately become a flashpoint and the epicentre of discussion regarding the ties between India and Maldives.
In this editorial, I will endeavour to look back and forth and see how the turbulence was there in the air and on Ground Zero and try to mention some instances and try to gauge and assess the situation.
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According to official statistics by the Maldives’ government, Indian tourists have consistently remained among the top ten nations which travel to the island country annually.
Alone in 2023, among the tourists who travelled to Maldives, Indians formed the largest cluster of tourists with over 200,000 travellers. This was followed by tourists from China and Russia. The Maldives is heavily dependent on tourism and the industry accounts for over 28 per cent of the nation’s GDP, according to a paper produced by the Michigan State University.
All it took was a series of posts on X this weekend from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, promoting tourism in Lakshadweep islands.
In a post referring to his visit to the Union Territory earlier this week, the Prime Minister spoke about “the stunning beauty of its islands”, adding that “for those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list.”
In his official statement, neither did the Prime Minister nor any other Indian government official make any references to the Maldives or any other island nation popular with tourists while promoting Lakshadweep.
So one may wonder what rattled this social media unrest and what sparked off such comments. It is rather difficult to find the connect between the post on X and such caustic remarks.
Any incident must not be looked at the microscopic level but at a macro level to get a somewhat hint of what’s happening.
The spark comes at a sensitive time even as Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu embarked on a five-day visit to China, his first as President following his poll election in October.
Muizzu is known for his pro-China stance and pledged to end his predecessor’s “India first” policy in a region where New Delhi and Beijing both vie for top influences.
Muizzu’s trip to Beijing is important both in terms of improving trade, professional, and socio-economic development.
However, even if Muizzu’s reported attempts may be to strengthen ties with Beijing, can the rulers of the archipelago in the Indian Ocean which is home to around half a million people afford to alienate its closest neighbour.
However, following Maldives’ outburst on social media platforms, Indians, especially the celebrities, initiated a call to boycott tourism in the Maldives, prompting the Indian government to address the issue with authorities of the Maldivian. Although the Maldives removed the three deputy ministers responsible for the offensive remarks, the incident raised concerns among the Maldivian population due to the significant impact on their tourism-driven economy and reliance on India for medical tourism.
On the other hand, numerous Maldivians have also expressed their discontent on social media platforms like X apologised to their Indian friends and expressed concerns about planned medical trips to India.
Medical tourism in India is major
It may be noted that India emerges as a crucial partner for the Maldives in addressing these healthcare challenges. Even as Maldivians prefer India for specialised medical treatments and surgeries, India also plays a crucial role in recruiting and training medical professionals for the Maldivian healthcare workforce.
The preference for India in medical tourism is driven by factors such as affordability, familiarity and proximity. According to a study, more than 90% of respondents chose India and Sri Lanka as their preferred destinations for these reasons. India’s advanced medical facilities, renowned doctors, and comparatively affordable treatment costs make it an attractive option for complex medical treatments which are not (readily) available in the Maldives.
MUIZZU’S VISIT
It may be recalled that Maldives’ President Mohamed Muizzu visited Turkey on his first official visit instead of first visiting New Delhi, as has been the custom for all newly-elected heads of government of all neighbouring countries except Pakistan. This also raises serious concerns that ties between the two countries may go through a rough trough in the Maldives’ new regime. Muizzu’s stand has also been reported to have been pro-China.
It may be recalled that former Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, with whom India had friendly relations, visited New Delhi in 2018 after assuming charge. Even Abdullah Yameen, Muizzu’s close associate and the openly pro-China leader of the Progressive Party of Maldives, came to India on his first foreign visit.
Turkey visit ‘heartburns’?
Muizzu’s decision to visit Turkey has also promoted his anti-India stance reportedly to an extent.
Meanwhile, Ankara and New Delhi have sparred on many sensitive geopolitical issues. Turkey is close to Pakistan and Erdogan has lent support to Islamabad on the Kashmir issue. Erdogan has also reportedly sought an alternative to the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the G20 Summit in September.
Diplomatic relations between Turkey and Maldives were established in 1979. Turkey and Maldives are two friendly nations in close cooperation at several international platforms, particularly the United Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
(The author is a Senior Journalist and former Senior Associate Editor, O Heraldo, Goa)
