On Tuesday, June 10, the national tourism office of the Maldives announced that Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif will serve as the country’s global brand ambassador, coinciding with PM Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to the island nation in July.
With Kaif’s involvement, the Maldives aims to enhance tourism this summer as part of its Summer Sale Campaign for Visit Maldives.
The initiative targets the summer holiday season, seeking to attract visitors from the UK, Russia, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the DACH region, Italy, Poland, Spain, and India.
The actress expressed her pride in representing the tourism campaign, aiming to engage a broader audience. “This collaboration is all about delivering the finest travel experiences to global audiences, and I’m thrilled to help people discover the unique allure and world-class offerings of this remarkable destination,” she remarked.
Ibrahim Shiuree, CEO and Managing Director of Visit Maldives, stated, “Her vibrant personality and strong bond with audiences worldwide make her an ideal ambassador for the Sunny Side of Life, which has been the leading global destination for five consecutive years.”
However, tourism tensions put both India and the Maldives in a diplomatic dispute back in January 2024. Three Maldivian deputy ministers and several MPs disparaged PM Modi using terms such as ‘clown’ and ‘terrorist.’ This ignited a social media conflict, leading many Indians, who represent the largest group of tourists to the Maldives, to call for a boycott of the islands.
Eventually, both nations reconciled later in the year, signing multiple Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) in October 2024.
