8 hours ago
- Copy link
Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif has now become the Global Tourism Ambassador of Maldives. The announcement was made on social media on Tuesday. Visit Maldives shared this news, saying that she is very happy to receive Katrina Kaif as her global brand ambassador. Significantly, Katrina is the big face of the world of brand endorsement in India.
Katrina Kaif became Maldives’s Global Tourism Ambassador
On this occasion, Katrina said, “Maldives is a peak of luxury and natural beauty, a place where simplicity and peace meet together. I am proud to be the face of ‘Sunny Side of Life’. Through this collaboration, I am excited to introduce people around the world to familiarize the specialty and Best travel experience of Maldives.”
This collabobation came amidst the sourness in India-Maldives relations This cololebation has happened at a time when some bitterness was seen in the relations between India and Maldives since January last year. Visit Maldives has recently launched a summer cell campaign to know the beauty, rich marine life and luxury experiences of the Maldives more and more from all over the world. According to India today report, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi may go on a visit to Maldives next month.
Offensive comments of Maldives leaders had increased controversy Significantly, in the beginning of 2024, the relationship between the two countries was soured. On 7 January 2024, the hash tag boycottmaldives trend in India. PM Modi shared a video of the Lakshadweep tour. In this, Lakshadweep was seen competing with Maldives in terms of beauty. After this, people on social media started saying that it is better to go to Lakshadweep than going to Maldives after spending millions of rupees.
Maldives ministers and leaders were seen angry with this. At that time, ministers Maryam Shuuna, Deputy Ministers Abdullah Jazoom Majid and Malsha Sharif made objectionable remarks about Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep. Minister Maryam Shuuna used objectionable words for PM Modi in a post on social media. At the same time, leader Zahid Rameez was written that India cannot compete with us in terms of service. Maryam was the Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Information and Art.
On this post, former Maldives President Mohammad Nasheed had said, “Shuuna has called wrong words. This can endanger the security and prosperity of the Maldives. President Mohammad Muizu’s government should distance from such comments.”
On social media, a user shared the video of PM Modi’s Lakshadweep video and wrote – It is a good step! This is a major setback for the new government of Maldives, which is China’s puppet. After this visit, tourism will also be boosted in Lakshadweep.
In response, PPM leader Zahid Rameez wrote- Of course this is a good step, but India can never match us. How will India give the service to the Maldives. How will they be able to keep so much cleanliness as we keep. The smell coming in their rooms will be the biggest problem for tourists.
Bollywood stars supported Lakshadweep Following the objectionable post of Maldives leaders, there was a war between Indians and citizens of Maldives on social media. The anger of the people of India increased so much that the hashtag in the country started trending boycottmaldives. People had strongly opposed the Maldives.
The hashtag started trending boycottmaldives.
The stars of the Hindi film industry also shared posts on social media to protest against the Maldives. Akshay Kumar, John Abraham, Shraddha Kapoor shared pictures of Lakshadweep and wrote that he must come here for a holiday.
Akshay Kumar wrote- Surprisingly, the people of Maldives are doing evil to the country from where most of the tourists reach Maldives.
On 7 January 2024, the woman minister of Maldives, who made derogatory remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India, was suspended from the cabinet. Apart from Shuuna, two more deputy ministers Malsha Sharif and Abdullah Majid were also suspended.
In a conversation with ‘India today‘, Maldives government spokesperson Ibrahim Khalil had said- Our government has made its stand clear about what is going on by quoting posts on social media about India. The Foreign Ministry has also issued a statement. All the government officials who comment about India are being suspended immediately.
Then in February 2024, Maldives President Mohammad Muju announced that India would recover its military personnel from Maldives before May 10. Maldives had asked the Indian Army present in his country to leave the country before 10 May 2024. Then on 11 March 2024, the first group of 25 Indian soldiers left the Maldives. Then on 9 April 2024, Indian soldiers were also left to Maldives by the second group.
The agreement between Maldives and India in New Delhi in February 2024 decided that India’s technical staff team would replace Indian soldiers in Maldives to oversee the operation of military aircraft. After this, on 29 May 2024, the first batch of 26 technical staff reached Maldives.
Tourists from India to Maldives decreased by 40% In 2024, the ongoing deadlock between Maldives and India affected the tourism there. The number of Indian tourists reaching Maldives from January 2024 to April 2024 declined by 40 per cent.
The Ministry of Tourism of Maldives had reported that 43,991 tourists from India came from January 2024 to April 2024. In 2023, this number was 73,785 during this time.
Tourists visiting Maldives in 2023.
Tourism Minister said- Maldives always wants to befriend India On 6 May 2024, Maldives Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal appealed to the Indians to come to their country. He had said- Our economy is dependent on tourism. Ibrahim Faisal had said that Maldives always wants to befriend India. Our government is always ready to welcome Indians. Most of the tourists in Maldives used to come from India. Now this number has reached the sixth position.
Maldives Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal along with President Muizu.
S. Jaishankar However, despite these tensions, India took steps to improve relations. In August 2024, External Affairs Minister S.K. Jaishankar had visited Maldives. During this, S. Jaishankar met President Mujju. During this period, agreement was signed between the two countries on capacity building, UPI service and 6 High Impact Community Development Projects.
In the 28 islands, water-sewer network, Greater Male Connectivity Project and Reclament and noise protection projects were inaugurated. It was agreed to increase defense, economic and social cooperation. Jaishankar took part in the ‘Ek tree mother’s name’ campaign.
Maldives President Mohammad Mujju visited India In October 2024, Maldives President Mohammad Mujju visited India. It was agreed to increase defense cooperation between the two countries. Maldives President Mohammad Mujju had said that the policy of his country’s ‘Maldives First’ will not affect India’s relations. He said that Maldives will never do anything that damages India’s security. In an interview given to the Times of India, Mujju also said that Maldives’ relations with other countries would not have an impact on the relationship with India.
Mujju had said that Maldives will continue to have strategic relations with India as India is an important partner and friend. He had said that Maldives would continue to work closely with India for regional stability and security.
Mujju had said that relations between Maldives and India have always been strong. They are sure that this journey will give it further strength. This was President Mujju’s first bilateral visit to India, although earlier he attended the swearing -in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June 2024.
Mujju held a bilateral meeting with PM Modi at Hyderabad House. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Modi and Mujju inaugurated the runway of Hanimadhu International Airport in Maldives virtually. During this time, Mujju also invited PM Modi to come to Maldives.
President Mujju met PM Modi at Hyderabad House.
In October 2024, President Mohammad Mujju thanked India for helping strengthen the Maldives’ economy. He had addressed the country on the occasion of Independence Day of Maldives, saying that both India and China have helped a lot in repaying the debt of Maldives.
Maldives President Mohammad Mujju thanked India.
India had given assistance of Rs 400 crore to Maldives under the ‘Nebors First Policy’. Maldives expressed gratitude to this and hoped that India would help in making the loan pay even easier.