Discussions have been held to increase tourist arrivals from India, as Maldives attempts to overcome the economic impacts from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Tourism Minister Dr. Abdulla Mausoom and the Indian High Commissioner to Maldives, Sunjay Sudhir, met on Wednesday.

In addition to ways to increase tourist arrivals from India, Ministry of Tourism via Twitter said that the two discussed on increasing networking between Indian investors and Maldivian Small Medium Enterprises as well as on human resource development in the tourism sector.

Talking to RaajjeMV regarding the meeting, the tourism minister noted that India was in second in terms of tourist arrivals, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mausoom said that increase in tourist arrivals from the neighbouring nation will undoubtedly be a boost to the tourism industry.

Further noting that foreigners come to the Maldives for its pristine waters, he said that Indians are no exception.

The minister also revealed that discussions with the Indian high commissioner also included providing training opportunities for those in the tourism industry including on ways to move ahead in the industry.

Mausoom said that this is he because believes that Maldivians in the industry must earn well, and be able to fill posts above supervisor level.

While he noted that India is also second when it comes to the highest Covid-19 infections per country, the minister stressed that this is not an issue as tourists are only able to enter the country after providing negative Covid-19 PCR test results; a requirement from September 10.

While this was the newly appointed minister’s first official meeting with High Commissioner Sudhir since receiving parliamentary approval, an air travel bubble was established between Maldives and India last month.

The purpose of this air bubble is to “bring back Indian tourists to Maldives” to help the country overcome the economic impacts of Covid-19.

Established on August 25, this is India’s first air travel bubble in South Asia. Maldives is also one of the nine countries with which India has entered into such an arrangement.

Nearly 167,000 Indians visited the Maldives last year.

Maldives most lucrative industry, the tourism industry was on standstill for nearly four months after the country closed borders on March 27 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Borders were reopened on July 15, and tourist arrivals have been lower than anticipated, and Minister Mausoom previously said that the number is expected to reach 120,000 by December.

The country welcomed a record breaking 1.7 million tourist arrivals in 2019, and a two million target was made for 2020. However, following the pandemic, this was reducted to 850,000 and now to about 120,000 visitors.