Photo shows a mesmerizing and stark contrast between the red palm trees and the famed crystal clear water of the Maldives. Using an infra-red filter camera, Italian photographer Paolo Pettigiani captured the spectacular scenery of the picturesque island. Photo: VCG

The Maldives conducted a vibrant ceremony on Wednesday for the first Chinese tourists to visit since 2020, after China optimized its epidemic prevention policy and allowed outbound travel to resume in an orderly manner.

In a statement sent to the Global Times on Thursday, Beijing Capital Airlines said that a flight carrying 193 passengers departed from Beijing Daxing International Airport on Wednesday. The direct flight arrived three hours later in Male, capital of the Maldives.

The arriving tourists were greeted with special gift packs and flowers from a high-level delegation, including officials from the Embassy of China in the Maldives and the Ministry of Tourism of the Maldives.

Speaking at the welcoming ceremony, Thoyyib Mohamed, managing director of the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation, said that Wednesday marked a bright beginning of a new chapter in welcoming outbound tourists from China, according to local website Visitmaldives.

"We are extremely pleased to be welcoming flights from China to the Maldives again. China was our key source market for some years prior to the onset of the pandemic, and we are looking forward to Chinese travelers topping our arrival charts again," he said.

Abdulla Mausoom, minister of tourism in the Maldives, tweeted several pictures of the welcome for Chinese tourists arriving on Wednesday, saying "Thanks to [Chinese] Ambassador [to the Maldives] Wang Lixin for her support to Maldives tourism industry. Congratulations on the first direct flight from China to Maldives in three years."

Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid also mentioned the event on Twitter: "Delighted to welcome back Chinese tourists to the Maldives again, after a long absence of almost three years. We have been eagerly anticipating this day, and working closely with authorities in both Maldives & China to make this happen."

The Chinese market consistently topped the arrival charts to the Maldives prior to 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic impacted outbound trips from the two countries. In 2019, China was the top source market with 284,029 arrivals. This number fell in 2020 to 6th place with 34,245 arrivals, and dropped even further over the next two years.

Mausoom said that the government was discussing including tourist arrivals from China when formulating the target of tourist arrivals for 2023, adding that the target will change as China starts flights to the Maldives earlier than planned. For instance, in addition to Beijing Capital Airlines, China Eastern Airlines told the Global Times on Thursday that it will resume flights from Shanghai to the Maldives from February 4.

As such, Mausoom said that the government's target of attracting 1.8 million tourists this year will be increased by 10 percent, a report released by local media outlet PSM News said.

After China optimized its COVID response, cross-border travel has rebounded, with a number of countries warmly welcoming Chinese tourists.

For example, in Thailand, the deputy prime minister and other government officials greeted passengers from China at the airport and gave them health bags and garlands. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen expressed the hope of receiving 2 million Chinese tourists in 2023. Indonesia and other countries have arranged for Chinese-speaking staff to assist in relevant work.

Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, said that China will continue to adapt its COVID response measures to the evolving epidemic situation and work with all sides to ensure safe, unhindered and orderly cross-border travel and contribute to international solidarity against the pandemic and world economic recovery.