The Maldivian government said Thursday that Chinese topped its list of tourists, local press reported.

Maldivian Tourism Minister Ahmed Adeeb Gafoor said more Chinese staff were being recruited to work at the resorts and Chinese restaurants were being set up.

Gafoor's comments come amid calls for a tourism boycott of the Maldives exploded across Chinese social media networks, after allegations of discrimination against Chinese tourists and staff at one resort were widely circulated.

The island government refuted the allegations.

Xinhua