PM Modi's visit to the Maldives marks a historic moment in strengthening India-Maldives relations. In this exclusive interview, Maldives Tourism Minister Thoriq Ibrahim shares insights on how the visit will deepen bilateral ties and boost the tourism sector. He discusses the improving relationship between the two nations, the importance of Indian tourists to the Maldives, and future strategies to attract more visitors. Watch this ground report from Maldives with host Uma Shankar Singh for an in-depth perspective on this significant visit.
00:00India is our neighbor. It has been a friend for us for a long, long time.
00:08We always welcome Indian tourists to Maldives and we always cater for the Indian tourism.
00:17We have several direct connections from Indian Tier 1 cities to Maldives right now.
00:24We will increase the direct flights to Maldives from more cities in India.
00:34With us, Thawrik Ibrahim is the Tourism Minister of Maldives.
00:38We will talk about the relationship between Bharat and Madalte.
00:41Welcome to my show. My first question to you is that how you see Prime Minister Maldives this visit
00:48and how it is going to change the India-Bharat relationship?
00:53The presence of Indian Prime Minister Mr. Maldives visit to Maldives for his state visit
01:06and also as a special guest for Independence Day actually underscores the deep and valued partnership
01:17that between India and Maldives and it's excellent right now.
01:22The visit highlights the importance of Indian market which is currently account for 6% of tourist arrival to Maldives as well.
01:32So we hope that with this visit our bilateral relationship will be strengthened and also people-to-people relationship will also be strengthened in the future.
01:49So in past India and Maldives had a very difficult relation and at that particular time there was a call from India not to go as a tourist to Maldives.
02:02So at that point of time what you thought, what were you feeling and now how the situation has changed?
02:08Yeah, I think India is our neighbour of India has been a friend for us for a long long time.
02:18So what I feel is that at times this bilateral relationship might be a little bit in a difficult situation but eventually the relationship should come to get better.
02:33And what I see right now is that both leaders are getting together to make sure that our bilateral relationship actually improved
02:50and the relationship with the improvement of relationship, the rest of the issues will be solved.
02:58Especially our tourism is something that our economy is dependent on.
03:05Our GDP is tourism accounts for 22% of our GDP.
03:12So Indian tourist is we need to have more tourists from India to Maldives to make sure that our tourism thrives.
03:24I think the visit that we are seeing today by the Prime Minister of India will change a lot of bilateral relationship and improve the bilateral relationship in the future.
03:41So you have now a new terminal building also.
03:44What more you are doing to get more and more Indian tourists in Maldives?
03:50Yeah, as you know that we have several direct connections from Indian Tier 1 cities to Maldives right now.
04:00And we hope to increase the arrival numbers from India especially with the discussions that we had, our two leaders had yesterday in the bilateral talks.
04:16One of the areas that was discussed is to improve the connectivity and increase the frequency of the travel from Indian cities.
04:28And increase the, add more cities direct flights to Maldives from different, more cities in India.
04:37So with these actions having more cities connected to Maldives plus have frequency of travel, increase the frequency of travel within the cities of Indian cities to Maldives.
04:52We will definitely increase the number of tourists that are coming to Maldives.
04:58So, and also with the opening of our new Vedana International Airport terminal that can actually cater for about 7.5 million tourists per year.
05:10So which will definitely, can cater for more Indian tourist arrivals and more Indian direct connections, the flights to Maldives.
05:21My final question is that in India, a negative feeling, you know, took place in Indian's mind that Maldives is going anti-India or it is saying something that goes against India.
05:35So how you will assure Indian tourists that that's not the case here?
05:39Every Maldivian love Indians and they should come as a tourist.
05:43So what kind of assurance you, you want to give or what kind of message you want to give to the Indian tourists?
05:50I think we, we always, I mean, welcome Indian tourists to Maldives.
05:57And we always cater for the Indian tourism, tourists, tourism and tourists, tourists and tourists, the market, Indian market.
06:07If you look at our resorts, almost all the resorts now cater for Indian tourists and they have their Indian cuisines available in the restaurants as well.
06:19So I think we have a very positive feeling and very positive feedback for the Indian travellers to Maldives.
06:30Subscribe to One India and never miss an update.
