With the popularity of 'Boycott Maldives' trend showing no signs of abating, the island nation's top travel and tour operator body extended a "sincere apology" for the hurt caused by the derogatory remarks by some of Male's top leaders against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India.

Seeking rapprochement of relations with India to avert a "potential adverse impact" on tourism that is the lifeblood of the archipelago, the Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) appealed to the CEO of an online travel platform in India after it announced the suspension of all flight bookings to the island nation on its website in solidarity with India, as reported by TOI.

"Tourism stands as the lifeblood of the Maldives, contributing over two-thirds of our GDP and providing livelihoods to approximately 44,000 Maldivians who work directly in the tourism sector. The potential adverse impact on tourism holds the power to unleash severe repercussions on our economy, affecting the lives and well-being of many," MATATO said in a letter to the CEO of an online travel booking platform.

Referring to the derogatory remarks, MATATO said recent events have cast a somber shadow on the relationship between India and Maldives and extended its "sincere apologies for the hurt caused by these remarks". "We want you to know that the bonds connecting our nations transcend politics. We consider our Indian counterparts not just as business associates but as cherished brothers and sisters," it said.

According to the Maldives Tourism Ministry statistics, over 18 lakh tourists visited the island nation in 2023, out of which more than 2,09,198 visitors were Indians followed by Russians (2,09,146) and China (1,87,118).

The Maldives was also one of the few countries open for international tourists during the pandemic and nearly 63,000 Indians visited that country during that period.

Reiterating that the Indian market remains "an indispensable force in the success of the Maldivian tourism sector", providing vital support to guest houses and small to medium-sized enterprises that depend on the influx of Indian visitors, MATATO said it humbly seeks "assistance and support" in fostering positive relations and dispelling any misunderstandings that may have arisen.