Amid the ongoing boycott Maldives campaign online, Indian travel company MakeMyTrip on Monday posted statistics on the microblogging site, X showing that searches for Lakshadweep have increased on its platform by 3400 per cent since Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the island.
The company also introduced a special campaign ‘Beaches of India’.
NewsFlash: We have observed a 3400% increase in on-platform searches for Lakshadweep ever since the Honorable PM’s visit.This interest in Indian beaches has inspired us to launch a ‘Beaches of India’ campaign on the platform with offers and discounts to encourage Indian travellers… pic.twitter.com/4CYb1iApZG
— MakeMyTrip (@makemytrip) January 8, 2024
However, social media users asked the travel company to suspend all the bookings for Maldives over the derogatory remarks made by some of their ministers against PM Narendra Modi.
cancel flights and tickets to the maldives.thats the only option you have, else switching to Easemytrip @EaseMyTrip— Rahul Bhat (@Rahulbh82196560) January 8, 2024
Do you have the will to stop Maldives’ bookings or will you make hay since your smaller competitor has stopped it? @deepkalraThough I am an MMTBlack member, I will be using the @EaseMyTrip a lot more given their bold step.
— choppy (@choppybaba) January 8, 2024
Another travel company, EaseMyTrip suspended all Maldives flight bookings following the derogatory remarks.
Showcasing his support of the #ChaloLakshwadeep campaign, Nishant Pitti, co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of EaseMyTrip took to X (formerly Twitter) and wrote, “In solidarity with our nation, @EaseMyTrip has suspended all Maldives flight bookings.”
In solidarity with our nation, @EaseMyTrip has suspended all Maldives flight bookings ✈️ #TravelUpdate #SupportingNation #LakshadweepTourism #ExploreIndianlslands #Lakshadweep#ExploreIndianIslands @kishanreddybjp @JM_Scindia @PMOIndia @tourismgoi @narendramodi @incredibleindia https://t.co/wIyWGzyAZY— Nishant Pitti (@nishantpitti) January 7, 2024
Speaking on the matter, co-founder of EaseMyTrip, Prashant Pitti said, “Our company is entirely homegrown and made in India. Amid the row over Maldives MP’s post on PM Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep, we have decided that we will not accept any bookings for Maldives. We want Ayodhya and Lakshadweep to turn out as international destinations.”
WHY BOYCOTT MALDIVES IS TRENDING?
The Boycott Maldives campaign started trending on social media after some ministers of the island nation used derogatory words against PM Modi and accused India of shifting focus from them and promoting Lakshadweep as another tourist spot.
The row escalated when several Indian tourists reportedly started canceling their scheduled vacations to the island nation. PM Modi recently visited the country’s smallest Union Territory, Lakshadweep, and posted some pictures on his social media platform. The Prime Minister’s visit was, however, perceived as a move to promote tourism to the archipelago.
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