China has overtaken Indian tourists visiting the Maldives, according to official figures from the Maldivian Ministry of Tourism. As of February 4, China occupied the number one slot (11.2%) market share in 2024, while India slipped down to 5th position with 16,536 tourists (7.7% market share in 2024). This could be a result of a backlash against India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media after Modi posted photos and video of his visit to the pristine Lakshadweep Islands.
