European tourist market ‘unaffected’ by Maldives crisis

The European tourist market remains unaffected by the Maldives’ political crisis, a top diplomat has said.

Several countries have issued travel alerts after President Abdulla Yameen imposed a state of emergency in response to a Supreme Court ruling.

There have been anti-Yameen protests in the capital and local islands, with riot police using pepper spray and force to disperse crowds, and the tourism sector has reported cancellations.

“There hasn’t been much of an impact on the EU market. But there has been decline from other parts of the world. There may be a decline from markets like India and China due to the current situation,” Ahmed Shiaan, the Maldives ambassador to Belgium and the European Union Ahmed, told SunOnline.