The gap is huge: Malaysia and India provinces set off a "war of words" for tourists
After the elections in the Maldives, there was some change in the relations between Malaysia and India, and many different opinions emerged. One is about the competition of tourists. Not long ago, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Lakshadweep Islands, and he posted pictures of the relevant pictures on his social network, praising the island's customs and habits. The move sparked a dispute between the Maldives and India. Some Indian internet users have even suggested that the Lakshadweep Islands could replace the Maldives as an emerging holiday destination. The Maldives' deputy minister lashed out at Modi in social media, calling him a "clown," a "terrorist," and describing India as a "puppet" of Israel. All three were government workers, and their aggressive comments had pushed India to the forefront. Indians have developed a strong resistance to travel to the Maldives, and some airlines have halted all flights to the Maldives. Under public pressure, the Maldives has suspended three officials and made it clear that what they said was their own and not that of the Maldivian government.
In response to India's boycott, the Maldives did the same. In addition to deeper exchanges with China, we have also launched more Chinese products to make Chinese people feel more. To increase the attractiveness of Chinese tourists, hotels and resorts in the Maldives are recruiting Chinese employees and are starting to speak the Chinese language. Cooperation between China and Malaysia has improved again after Moiz's visit to China, and the number of flights from China to the Maldives has also increased. At the same time, China remains the largest tourist destination in the Maldives, with more than twice as many Chinese tourists in the Maldives as there are in India. In addition, China has also allowed visa-free access to the Maldives, and in the long run, the prospects for the development of China's tourism market are greater than those of India. So, if India wants to establish itself as a tourist city in the Maldives that can compete with the Maldives, it will be in considerable trouble.
The dependence of the Maldives on India
The Maldives has long adhered to the principle of "India first" and considers India to be a key neighbor of the country. However, such dependence is not conducive to the development of the Maldives. During his time in power, Muiz recognized the magnitude of the problem and reintegrated its links with India. However, the negotiation process will be difficult, and India will not agree to the compromise made by the Maldives. There are still a large number of Indian tourists who have decided to abandon the Maldives, and major Indian travel agencies have stopped promoting the Maldives and recommended them to go to Lakshadweep or Sri Lanka. In such a situation, for the long-term development of the Maldives, it has become a top priority to deepen relations with China and reduce its dependence on India.
India's ambition to develop tourism
Modi's authorities have high expectations for the local tourism industry, which they see as the fastest growing industry in India. Therefore, Modi's authorities are encouraging Indians to travel to Lakshadweep in an attempt to turn it into the "Maldives of India". However, India has encountered many thorny problems in this area. First of all, the Maldives has some of the best natural conditions and beautiful beaches that India can't match. Secondly, the Maldives has a good development in terms of tourism and at the same time has a good service system, which will take some time for India to establish. In addition, the Maldives has also stepped up its efforts with China to attract Chinese tourists. The potential for tourism consumption in China is much larger than in India. Therefore, it is still difficult for India to compete with the Maldives in tourism development.
brief summary
The conflict between the Maldives and India is not just about reformulating foreign policy, but about a fierce contest in the field of tourism. The Maldives has long realized that over-reliance on India can be a constraint on its development, so it has changed its dependence on India and is working more deeply with China. For its part, India is also trying to fight the Maldives in a war for tourism development. However, given the Maldives' natural conditions, rich tourism experience and close partnership with China, it is difficult for India to replace the Maldives in tourism. China is the number one target market for the Malaysia-India rivalry and the main target market for the Maldives. There is a lot of room for development in China's tourism market, and Moiz's visit has brought the cooperation between China and Malaysia even closer. In view of this, India will face many difficulties if it wants to compete with the Maldives in terms of tourism development. In general, the Maldives is trying to avoid relying too much on India by coordinating more diplomatically with China. This partially mitigates India's impact on Maldives tourism, as well as the sustainable development of the Maldives.