President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has stated that he requests that we intensify efforts for China to regain it's position as the top source market for tourism in the Maldives.

He made the statement while delivering his remarks at the Invest Maldives Forum at the Fuzhou Strait International Convention and Exhibition Centre in Fuzhou, China.

"China was our number one market pre-COVID, and it is my request that we intensify efforts for China to regain this position," the President said.

While India has become the top source after post-pandemic, Chinese tourists only started arriving in January of 2023. In their absence, India has remained the top source market for the past three years.

Last year, 209,198 tourists came from India, while 187,118 tourists came from China. It is the third source market for the Maldives.

President Muizzu's remarks come as many Indian tourists are canceling their bookings to the Maldives following an anti-campaign against the country in the name of promoting Lakshadweep as a tourist destination. Some people are also campaigning to boycott the Maldives on social media. Some Bollywood stars have also joined the movement.

The issue arose after the recent visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Lakshadweep. Modi said Lakshadweep is a beautiful place and Indian tourists should go there. In response, some Maldivians have started spreading rumors that it is an indirect campaign launched by Modi against Maldivian tourism. Some Indian sources have also started making reports.

Three Maldivian Deputy Ministers were also seen passing racist and abusive remarks on Modi, further escalating the situation and fueling calls for a boycott of the island nation.

The government has suspended three deputies who insulted Modi. A number of bookings made by Indian tourists to come to the Maldives have been canceled in the past few days. Some Indian tourism associations and travel agencies have issued statements urging people not to come to the Maldives.

Some Indian newspapers have reported that the government's demand is to remove the deputy ministers who openly insulted Modi.