World's most beautiful island targets 300,000 Indian tourists after sharp decline

By Hoang Vu March 19, 2025 | 03:08 pm PT

Tourists ride around a resort in Maldives. Photo by Bui Trang Nhung

The Maldives, named the world's most beautiful island by Travel + Leisure magazine readers, targets 300,000 Indian tourists this year following a significant drop in arrivals last year.

From 2020 to 2023, Indian travelers consistently ranked as the largest source of visitors to the tourism-dependent nation.

However, Indian arrivals fell by 34% last year, according to Firstpost.

Tourism remains the Maldives's largest source of foreign exchange, with the country welcoming 2 million visitors last year.

China emerged as the top source of tourists, followed by Russia.

To regain Indian travelers, the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) plans to host monthly promotional events across India, Economic Times reported.

MMPRC chairman Abdulla Ghiyas said the agency is also working with Indian and Maldivian airlines to expand flight connections from more Indian cities.