A diplomatic row between India and the Maldives has resulted in a significant drop in travel bookings to the island nation, according to a report by CNBC Travel.
The dispute erupted last week after a series of posts appeared on India Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Twitter account, showing him snorkeling, sitting by the water, and meeting people in Lakshadweep. Some viewed these posts as a veiled attempt to siphon visitors away from the Maldives.
As a result, travel bookings to the Maldives have plummeted, with thousands of Indian travelers reportedly canceling their trips. This has prompted EaseMyTrip, a prominent Indian travel booking website, to suspend flight bookings from India to the Maldives.
In response to the drop in bookings, some travel agents in India have canceled their bookings to the Maldives and are recommending alternative destinations such as the Indian archipelago of Lakshadweep, the Andaman Islands, Nicobar Islands, or Sri Lanka.
The situation has also drawn attention to Lakshadweep, a little-known scenic chain of sandy atolls, coral reefs, and crystalline water. The Maldives, located 340 miles to the south of Lakshadweep, has historically been the preferred playground for Indian travelers.
In 2023, India was the largest source market for the Maldives, with more than one in 10 arrivals coming from India, followed by Russia and China. However, recent reports indicate that British and Italian travelers have outnumbered Indian visitors in the first week of January.
The repercussions of the diplomatic row have raised concerns about potential losses to the Maldives, which is estimated to have received $380 million in tourism revenue from India in the previous year.
The diplomatic tension is rooted in the election of Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, who campaigned on an “India out” policy and recently chose China for his first state visit, seen as a snub to India.
The Indian Ministry of Exterior Affairs has not yet responded to the situation, but there are reports of social media posts by Maldivian officials insulting Prime Minister Modi, leading to their suspension.
The implications of the dispute have underscored the travel industry’s vulnerability to local geopolitical affairs and ongoing conflicts in the region.
As the situation continues to unfold, there are mixed opinions about the potential longevity of the travel boycott. While some predict that the boycott will pass quickly, others believe that a national rallying cry to travel domestically within India may have greater staying power.
The travel industry awaits the outcome of this diplomatic row and its impact on tourism to the Maldives, as well as the response from Indian travelers and their choices of alternative destinations.