Chalo Lakshadweep: EaseMyTrip suspends Maldives flight bookings amid India-Maldives row

As the boycott campaign against the Maldives gains momentum, the CEO and co-founder of EaseMyTrip, Nishant Pitti, announced the halt of flight reservations to the Maldives. This decision comes in response to offensive comments made by Maldivian ministers directed towards India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In a show of solidarity, Pitti announced the suspension of Maldives flight bookings through a post on social media platform X, affirming, "In support of our nation, @EaseMyTrip has suspended all Maldives flight bookings."



EaseMyTrip began visit Lakshadweep campaign by #ChaloLakshadweep

India-Maldives row: #BoycottMaldives
Amidst a growing dispute between India and the Maldives, the hashtag #BoycottMaldives gained momentum on social media as Indian tourists began canceling their previously arranged trips to the archipelago.

Controversy arose when Maldivian politicians made derogatory comments about Prime Minister Narendra Modi and mocked his visit to Lakshadweep, portraying the region as a mere tourist spot for Indians.

Earlier in the day, the Indian Association of Tour Operators anticipated that the boycott movement would become more evident in the next 20-25 days.

Numerous individuals on social media from India have asserted that they have withdrawn their plans for vacations to the Maldives.

"Suddenly, there has been no inquiry on the Maldives. There are sudden drops. Those who have made payments will not cancel them. We are expecting that people will not book trips to the Maldives," Rajiv Mehra, president of the Indian Association of Tour Operators, told ANI.

India-Maldives row: A sought-after tourist destination
The Maldives has emerged as a sought-after tourist destination, particularly popular among Indian travelers. As of December 2023, data from the Maldives' tourism ministry reveals that Indian tourists constituted the highest number of visitors to the country.

With a total of 209,198 visitors, India surpassed other nations in terms of tourist arrivals, followed closely by Russia with 209,146 visitors and China with 187,118 visitors.

India-Maldives row: The controversy
Mariyam Shiuna, Malsha Shareef, and Mahzoom Majid faced suspension due to their comments targeting Prime Minister Modi, leading to significant public backlash.

Shiuna expressed derogatory remarks against PM Modi on the social media platform X. Her post, now removed, contained images of PM Modi during his recent visit to Lakshadweep.

In response to these comments, the Maldives government took action by suspending the three ministers for their disrespectful statements against PM Modi.

Simultaneously, as tensions heightened between India and the Maldives following these critical remarks about PM Modi, celebrities from the Indian film industry initiated a "Visit Lakshadweep" campaign, using the hashtag #ExploreIndianIslands.