NewsRescue
The Maldives’ tourism industry is facing boycott calls in India after officials from the island nation made insulting comments about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media.
EaseMyTrip, one of India’s leading ticket-booking websites, declared on Monday that it would suspend all flight bookings to the Maldives “in solidarity” with its nation. The move occurred just one day after three Maldives ministers, Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna, and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid, called Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “clown” and a “terrorist.”
The Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators has recently encouraged Nishant Pitti, CEO of EaseMyTrip, to resume bookings, citing that the tourism industry is the “lifeblood” of the island nation, employing approximately 44,000 Maldivians.
The three ministers were fired for their remarks, and the Maldives Foreign Ministry distanced itself from them, clarifying that the thoughts were “personal.” However, several opposition leaders in the Maldives have urged that President Mohamed Muizzu, who was elected in October, be held accountable.
The Maldives Association of Tourism Industry “strongly condemned” the ministers’ “derogatory comments” in a separate statement. The group praised India as one of the Maldives’ “closest neighbours and allies,” saying the connection between the two countries “should endure for generations.”
The social media remarks addressed against Modi came in response to his posts on X (previously Twitter) promoting tourism in Lakshadweep, a group of islands off the Indian coast. The Maldives ministers’ reply sparked a widespread outcry in India, with hashtags such as #BoycottMaldives and #ExploreIndianIslands rising on social media.
Several Indian celebrities have expressed support for Modi by using social media to encourage travel to Lakshadweep, which is likewise famed for its calm settings. MakeMyTrip, an online travel booking provider, reported a 3,400% rise in on-platform searches for Lakshadweep since Modi’s visit in January.
Meanwhile, Muizzu, who is on a five-day state visit to China amid the ongoing disagreement with New Delhi, has urged Beijing to send more tourists to his country. Muizzu stated at a forum in Fujian province on Tuesday that China was the Maldives’ “number one market pre-Covid” and urged the country to “intensify efforts” to “regain this position.”
According to Maldives Tourism Ministry data, India received the most tourists to the island nation in 2023, with 209,198 arrivals, followed by Russia with 209,146 travellers. China ranked third on the list, with 187,118 visits last year.