India-Maldives dispute: EaseMyTrip suspends all flight bookings to Maldives
Standing in support of India, Nishant Pitti said on social media: “In solidarity with our nation, @EaseMyTrip has suspended all Maldives flight bookings.”
Online travel solutions provider EaseMyTrip launches Lakshadweep travel campaign by #Let’s Lakshadweep
In his post on X, he said, “The waters and beaches of Lakshadweep are as good as Maldives/Seychelles. We will be coming up with special offers to promote this pristine destination on @EaseMyTrip, where our Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently visited.” Have done!
Amid the escalating dispute between India and Maldives, the hashtag #BoycottMaldives gained momentum on social media as Indian tourists started canceling their scheduled holidays to the island nation.
Maldivian politicians have courted controversy by making derogatory remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi and ridiculing his visit to Lakshadweep, portraying it as a tourist destination for Indians.
Earlier in the day, the Indian Association of Tour Operators had predicted that the boycott call would be resolved within the next 20-25 days.
Many Indians on social media have claimed that they have canceled their planned holidays to the island nation.
Rajeev Mehra, president of the Indian Association of Tours, said, “Suddenly, there is no checking on Maldives. There has been a sudden decline. People who have made payments will not cancel them. We are hoping that people will take trips to Maldives. Will not book.” The operators said.
Another operator also expressed similar sentiments, saying that such statements by politicians deter people from choosing a particular country for travel.
Maldives is a popular tourist destination among Indians. According to data from the country’s Tourism Ministry, Indian tourists were the highest among tourists visiting Maldives by December 2023.
The largest number of tourists visiting Maldives were from India (2,09,198), followed by Russia (2,09,146) and China (1,87,118).
A Delhi-based tour operator said, “Maldives are quite popular among Indians. But this incident will have an impact. We are still seeing an impact. We are expecting a decline in people choosing Maldives as a tourist destination.” Are.” On condition of anonymity.
Maryam Sheuna, Malsha Sharif and Mahzoom Majeed were suspended over their comments against PM Modi, which sparked a massive reaction.
Shiuna made derogatory remarks against PM Modi on social media platform X. Shiuna’s post, which has now been deleted, contained photos from PM Modi’s recent visit to Lakshadweep.
After his comments, Maldives government suspended three ministers over derogatory remarks against PM Modi
Meanwhile, amid rising tensions between India and Maldives following derisive comments about PM Modi, celebrities from the Indian film industry have launched a “Travel to Lakshadweep” campaign under the hashtag #Explore IndianIslands.
