MALI: Maldives faces a tourism crisis following abusive comments made by ministers towards Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This has led to a significant decline in Indian visitors impacting the country's primary income source. President Mohamed Muizzu has reached out to China for aid.

With tourism, the mainstay of Maldives' economy, plummeting due to Indian boycotts, President Muizzu appealed to China for increased tourism. Last year, of the 1.7 million foreign tourists, 250,000 were Indian underscoring the looming economic repercussions.

Addressing a business forum during his five-day visit to China's Fujian province, President Muizzu identified China as the Maldives' closest ally. He highlighted their reliance on China citing the Belt and Road Initiative as pivotal to infrastructure development.

Emphasizing China's significant pre-COVID role as their prime market, Muizzu urged increased Chinese visits to revitalize the tourism sector. Unconfirmed reports indicate a potential US$50 million tourism project between the two nations. President Muizzu suspended three ministers responsible for disparaging Modi clarifying their views as personal and not reflective of the government's stance.