Days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep, the Maldives Association of Tourism Industry, or MATI, has stated that it vehemently condemns the disparaging remarks made by several deputy ministers on social media platforms about India and the Prime Minister.
India has traditionally been the Maldives’ “first responder” to emergencies, according to the MATI.
“The Maldives Association of Tourism Industry strongly condemns the derogatory comments made by some Deputy Ministers on social media platforms, directed towards the Prime Minister of India, His Excellency Narendra Modi as well as the people of India. India is one of our closest neighbours and allies. India has always been a first responder to various crises throughout our history and we are immensely grateful to the close relationship that the Government as well as people of India have maintained with us,” said MATI in a statement on Monday.
It also said India has also been a consistent and significant contributor to the tourism industry of the Maldives. “A contributor that has greatly assisted our recovery efforts during COVID-19, right after we re-opened our borders. Since then, India has continued to remain as one of the top markets for the Maldives,” the tourism industry said.
“It is our sincere wish that the close relationship between our two nations endures for generations to come and as such, we refrain from actions or speech that may have any negative impact on our good relationship,” it added.
The statement comes even as EaseMyTrip, one of India’s biggest online travel platforms, suspended flight bookings to the Maldives, amid a diplomatic row.
“Our company is entirely homegrown and made in India,” Prashant Pitti, co-founder of EaseMyTrip, wrote on X, (formerly Twitter). “We have decided that we will not accept any bookings for Maldives.”
MakeMyTrip, a different travel booking website, reported that after the prime minister’s visit, searches for Lakshadweep had increased by 3,400% and that it would be launching a new campaign called “Beaches of India” for domestic tourists.
Pitti from EaseMyTrip expressed his desire for Lakshadweep to be a popular international travel destination on X.
The dispute puts at risk a significant portion of the economy in the strategically significant archipelago of over five lakh inhabitants located west of Sri Lanka, where Indians make up the majority of tourists. The ramifications follow rising hostilities between the Maldives and India following the ascension of President Mohamed Muizzu to office in September of last year.
Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) called on exporters and traders in India on Monday to abstain from doing business with the Maldives.
The business community has regarded the disparaging remarks directed towards Modi unacceptable, according to CAIT secretary general Praveen Khandelwal. The purpose of this boycott demand is to show support and voice displeasure against such disrespectful behaviour.
Deputy ministers in the youth ministry Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid have been suspended over their posts against India. The Maldivian foreign ministry earlier said the government was aware of the “derogatory remarks” on social media platforms against foreign leaders and that the personal views do not represent its position.
