Decoding the ties between India and Maldives as Katrina Kaif gets appointed as the country's Global Tourism Ambassador, from strained to improved

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3 days ago

The appointment of the actress comes at a time when the relations between India and Maldives are getting healthier after they were strained last year read more
Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC/ Visit Maldives) has announced Katrina Kaif as the Global Brand Ambassador for the Maldives. This collaboration comes on the heels of Visit Maldives' special Summer Sale Campaign, designed to entice more travellers to discover the natural beauty, vibrant marine life, and exclusive luxurious experiences that the Maldives offers.
What Katrina Kaif said about the appointment
The actress said, 'The Maldives represents the pinnacle of luxury and natural beauty — a place where elegance meets tranquillity. I'm honoured to be chosen as the face of the Sunny Side of Life. This collaboration is about bringing the finest travel experiences to global audiences, and I'm excited to help people around the world discover the unique charm and world-class offerings of this extraordinary destination.'
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Mr Ibrahim Shiuree, CEO & MD of Visit Maldives reacts
Shiuree said, 'We are thrilled to welcome Katrina as our Global Brand Ambassador. Her vibrant personality and strong connection with audiences worldwide make her a perfect representative for the Sunny Side of Life, the World's Leading Destination for the past 5 consecutive years, especially as we start our Summer Sale push in key markets around the world.'
When India and Maldives' relations were strained
The appointment of the actress comes at a time when the relations between India and Maldives are getting healthier after they were strained last year. It all began in the first half of 2024 after Maldivian Defence Minister Mariya Didi made some derogatory remarks.
The comments came in the backdrop of a controversy triggered by social media posts by a minister and other leaders in the Maldives days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Lakshadweep archipelago.
'The Maldives has been famous in India for the wrong reasons, I would say especially on social media. We are not people like that. We love foreigners visiting our country, and we welcome you all to the Maldives,' Didi said at the Firstpost Defence Summit 2024.
Talking about the island nation, Didi said 25 years ago it could not be found on maps, even though it covers an area of about 54,000 square kilometres, which is about the size of France.
'But 99 percent of our territory is water. Now how can the Maldives suddenly come on the chart. People are talking about the Maldives. If you look at where we are situated, we have four major sea lines of communication that pass through or near our archipelago,' she said, adding that stability is important in the region.
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Didi said India had been the first responder when the Maldives required help.
'Like the Asian Tsunami, when we had difficulties we had India coming first as our first responder,' she said, adding that the Tsunami changed the sea bed as well, and many islands have disappeared while some new ones have emerged, and hydrographic charts need to be updated.
How the ties were improved
In August, 2024, both India and the Maldives agreed to sort out differences following Indian minister S. Jaishankar's visit to the Maldives, following a visit by the Maldivian PM to India to attend Modi's swearing-in ceremony in June. Ties have improved significantly since then. India has announced new investments and cooperation to help build infrastructure in the Maldives.