"India has always been there for us in crises" says Maldives Association of Tourism Industry

The Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) issued a strong condemnation against derogatory comments made by certain deputy ministers on social media platforms directed at India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The comments surfaced just days after Prime Minister Modi's visit to Lakshadweep.

 India: A historic first responder for Maldives

MATI emphasized India's historical role as a "first responder" to crises in the Maldives. In an official statement on Monday, MATI expressed gratitude for India's consistent support and close relationship. The tourism industry acknowledged India's contribution to the Maldives' recovery efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic and highlighted India's position as one of the top markets for Maldivian tourism.

"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.

While condemning the derogatory remarks, MATI expressed a sincere wish for the enduring relationship between the two nations. The association emphasized the need to refrain from actions or speech that could negatively impact the positive relationship between the Maldives and India.

“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.

EaseMyTrip suspends Maldives flight bookings, MakeMyTrip launches new campaign

In response to the diplomatic row, EaseMyTrip, one of India's prominent online travel platforms, announced the suspension of flight bookings to the Maldives. Prashant Pitti, co-founder of EaseMyTrip, emphasized the company's decision to stand against the derogatory comments, stating, "We have decided that we will not accept any bookings for Maldives."

MakeMyTrip reported a significant surge in searches for Lakshadweep following Prime Minister Modi's visit. The platform plans to launch a new "Beaches of India" campaign for local travelers. Pitti expressed a desire for Lakshadweep to become an international destination.

With Indians constituting the largest group of visitors to the Maldives, the diplomatic spat poses a threat to a key sector of the country's economy. The archipelago, strategically located west of Sri Lanka, is home to over five lakh people.

 Call for Boycott: traders respond

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) called upon domestic traders and exporters to refrain from conducting business with the Maldives. CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal stated that the derogatory comments against Modi were deemed unacceptable by the business community, and the boycott aims to express solidarity and register disapproval against such disrespectful behavior.

Suspension of Deputy Ministers

In response to the controversy, Maldives took swift action by suspending Deputy Ministers Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna, and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid from the youth ministry. The Maldivian foreign ministry clarified that the government was aware of the "derogatory remarks" on social media platforms but emphasized that these personal views did not represent the official position of the government.

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