The Maldives-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which came into effect on January 1, allows Maldivian travel agencies to operate in China, marking a substantial boost for the industry.

The agreement, described as a significant milestone in bilateral relations, includes tourism and transportation-related services. It enables local business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs to establish travel agency services in China, creating new opportunities to promote the Maldives as a premier destination for Chinese travellers.

Minister for Economic Development and Trade, Mohamed Saeed, highlighted the distinctive benefits of the Maldives-China Free Trade Agreement, explaining that it grants Maldivian businesses the ability to operate in specific sectors of China's free trade framework. This includes internal travel distribution, offering rights similar to those available to Chinese companies. He noted that such privileges have not been offered to any other free trade partner by China

China remains the Maldives' largest source of tourist arrivals. According to the Ministry of Tourism, more than 241,000 Chinese tourists visited the island nation last year, and 1,615 arrived in the first week of this year alone. The FTA is expected to further strengthen these links, driving growth in the Maldives' tourism sector.