Lakshadweep Tourist Numbers Soar After PM Modi’s Appeal, Maldives Sees Sharp Dip In Indian Visitors

Key points

• Lakshadweep Tourist Numbers Soar After PM Modi’s Appeal, Maldives Sees Sharp Dip In Indian Visitors Published By, Last Updated: May 19, 2026, 16:32 IST India Maldives diplomatic row shifts tourism, Lakshadweep visitors jump to 68328 in 2024, Indian arrivals to Maldives fall, India drops from top source market to sixth India’s share in Maldives tourism dropped from 11.1 per cent to 6.4 per cent, with total Indian arrivals falling to 130,328 during the year.
• (Photo: X/NarendraModi) A diplomatic row between India and the Maldives in January 2024 appears to have significantly altered tourism trends in the region, with Lakshadweep witnessing a massive surge in visitors while Indian tourist arrivals in the Maldives declined sharply.
• The controversy erupted after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Lakshadweep and inaugurated several development projects across sectors, including technology, energy, water resources, healthcare and education.
• Sharing pictures from the trip on X, Modi praised the “stunning...