Online travel aggregators are recording up to 3,400 percent increase in searches for 'India's hidden treasures and gems', but infrastructural challenges such as connectivity and permissions may hinder tourism at such pristine destinations
On January 6, Dr Falak Joshipura (@fa_luck7) posted on X: “Was planning to go to Maldives for my birthday which falls on February 2. Had almost finalised the deal with my travel agent, but immediately cancelled it after seeing this tweet from the deputy minister of Maldives #boycottmaldives.” Her post which included screenshots of her chat with her travel agent cancelling the trip got 1.2 million views.
Similarly, other Indian citizens who had booked their tickets to Maldives are taking to X to share how they no longer want to visit the Maldives because they have their “own Lakshadweep” and are “atmanirbhar”.
The Maldives is facing a boycott from India following a controversy involving negative comments about the country and its prime minister by three Maldivian now-suspended ministers.
This has not only led to travellers ditching their holiday plans, but also online travel aggregators (OTA) suspending their services to the archipelago and introducing new offers to spotlight domestic destinations.
“We are noticing many travellers reaching out to us and our members to cancel their Maldives bookings as they feel they may not be safe with the negative thoughts being aired,” says Jyoti Mayal, vice chairperson at Federation of Associations in India Tourism and Hospitality (FAITH). “A country, especially like Maldives, where Indians are driving the economy and are the highest spenders, should be careful of such comments,” she adds.