Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu on Monday said that India is one of the biggest tourism source markets for Maldives and hoped that more and more Indian tourists will visit Maldives. In a press conference after wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Moizzu said that India-Maldives ties are centuries-old which is evident in our histories.

Muizzu's statement is important because in January this year, the 'Boycott Maldives' online campaign gained momentum when some Maldivian ministers made statements against Prime Minister Modi. Muizzu further said, people-to-people relations have long been the foundation of relations between the two countries.

He said that many Maldivians visit India for tourism, medical treatment, education and many other reasons. Maldives also hosts a large number of Indians who contribute to its development. Meanwhile, Muizzu's wife Sajida Mohammed visited the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and appreciated their initiatives on food safety.