Muizzu Calls for Increased Efforts to Restore China’s Status as Top Tourist Market

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has urged for a concerted push to reinstate China as the primary source market for tourist arrivals to the Maldives. 

The appeal was made during his address at the Invest Maldives Forum held at the Fuzhou Strait International Convention and Exhibition Centre in Fuzhou, China, today.

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Highlighting China’s pre-COVID status as the leading source market for tourist arrivals, Muizzu expressed his desire to see a revival of this position. He emphasised the need to intensify efforts towards attracting Chinese tourists to the Maldives.

Muizzu outlined his administration’s commitment to diversifying the Maldives’ economic foundation, ensuring economic stability, and concurrently reinforcing the tourism sector to augment visitor numbers.

Further elucidating the development agenda, Muizzu unveiled plans to revolutionise the Maldivian economy, aiming to double the current GDP from USD 6 billion to USD 12 billion by 2028.

While acknowledging China’s historical dominance in pre-pandemic tourist arrivals, the current leading source market is India. Other key contributors to tourist influx include Russia, Germany, and the United Kingdom.