Why Are Indian Tourists Canceling Maldives Trips, Preferring Lakshadweep?
Three Maldivian ministers have been suspended for making derogatory remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lakshadweep. This has strained relations between India and the Maldives.
Tensions have risen between India and the Maldives due to insulting comments by Maldivian ministers. Indian tourists are canceling their trips, and celebrities are promoting Lakshadweep as an alternative destination.
Indians Prefer Lakshadweep Instead of Maldives
As a result of these offensive comments, many Indian tourists have canceled their planned trips to the Maldives. In solidarity with India, EaseMyTrip, an online travel company, has suspended all Maldives flight bookings.
Prominent Indian celebrities such as Akshay Kumar and Sachin Tendulkar have encouraged people to explore Indian islands like Lakshadweep instead.
Bollywood stars, including Akshay Kumar, Shraddha Kapoor, and others, have joined the movement to promote Lakshadweep as a tourist destination, urging Indians to support local tourism.
India-Maldives Diplomatic Reactions
Eva Abdulla, a former Deputy Speaker and MP from the Maldives has apologized for the offensive remarks and called on Indians to end the #BoycottMaldives campaign. She emphasized the importance of strong India-Maldives ties.
The MEA has summoned the Maldives High Commissioner to discuss the situation. The Ministry of External Affairs has summoned the Maldives High Commissioner to address the social media controversy surrounding Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep.
₹1,156 Crore Projects Initiated In Lakshadweep
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently visited Lakshadweep on 3rd January 2023 and unveiled major projects worth Rs 1,156 crore. These projects aim to improve the lives of the people in the Union Territory.
One important project is the Kochi-Lakshadweep Islands Submarine Optical Fibre Connection (KLI-SOFC). It will bring high-speed internet to the islands, making it 100 times faster than before. This will benefit internet services, telemedicine, education, and more.
Another project is the Low Temperature Thermal Desalination (LTTD) plant, which will produce clean drinking water for the people of Kadmat.
The Prime Minister also launched the Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) in Agatti and Minicoy islands, ensuring clean water in households.
There’s a solar power plant in Kavaratti and plans to renovate healthcare facilities and build model Anganwadi centers on different islands.
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Maldives is a close neighbor to India, and many Indian tourists used to visit there. But after the controversial remarks from Maldives ministers, Indian tourists, including celebrities have started preferring Lakshadweep over Maldives. This will definitely affect tourism and the economy of Maldives.
