The Maldives is ramping up efforts to attract Indian travellers, setting an ambitious target of 500,000 visitors from India in the coming years. Though post-pandemic visitor numbers have yet to reach their pre-crisis peaks, India remains a strategic market for the Indian Ocean archipelago, with authorities seeking to expand direct flight connectivity from at least nine cities across the country.
The number of Indian arrivals in the Maldives had plunged by 35% during the fallout of political tensions between India and the Maldives two years ago. However, the market has rebounded strongly in 2025, and tourism officials expect continued growth in 2026.
“The Indian market for the Maldives is recovering rapidly. After a period of negative growth, we have seen a strong resurgence in the last year, which is encouraging,” said Ibrahim Shuiree, CEO and Managing Director of Visit Maldives Corporation, speaking on the sidelines of ITB Berlin. “We have invested in campaigns with celebrities and influencers, conducted on-the-ground roadshows across India, and participated in key travel trade fairs to engage with both consumers and trade partners.”
Shuiree emphasized that the Maldives has long recognized the untapped potential of the Indian tourism market. “The Indian market’s potential is still not fully realized. Even immediately after the pandemic, we saw a surge in Indian travellers, which demonstrated the market’s strength. There is still a substantial opportunity to attract more Indian tourists, and we are actively pursuing it.”
Globally, the Maldives welcomed 2.24 million visitors in 2025 and aims to reach 2.5 million this year. While the total number of tourists remains important, Visit Maldives officials are prioritizing tourism revenue growth.
“We are focused on increasing total tourism receipts, not just arrivals,” said Abdulla Ghiyas Royaz, Chairperson of the Board of Visit Maldives Corporation. “Tourism revenue reached USD 5.6 billion in 2025, slightly up from USD 5.5 billion in the previous year.”
Indian travellers are central to this strategy, particularly in light of declining arrivals from other markets due to ongoing regional conflicts in West Asia. “India is a top priority for us. Currently, direct flights are available from only three Indian cities. Our goal is to expand this to at least nine cities, including Tier II destinations, not just major metros. This is feasible given the new aircraft orders placed by carriers such as IndiGo and Air India, and we are preparing a major joint campaign with IndiGo soon,” said Royaz.
The Maldives has already strengthened collaborations with Indian airlines and travel trade partners through various campaigns, roadshows, and influencer programs. Last year, the destination received 130,000 Indian visitors. For 2026, the target is at least 200,000, with a longer-term goal of reaching 500,000 Indian arrivals.
“India is here to stay as one of our top markets,” Royaz added. “We are committed to sustaining high levels of marketing activity to ensure that the Maldives remains a preferred destination for Indian travellers seeking luxury, nature, and unique island experiences.”
