Latest news with #BoycottMaldives
NDTV
7 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Will Indians Return To Maldives? PM Modi's Visit May Open The Gates
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently on a state visit to the Maldives. His arrival in the island nation is special this year not only because he is the Guest of Honour at the Maldives's 60th Independence Day celebrations but also because it marks a significant shift in the tides of diplomacy between the two countries. Landed in Malé. Deeply touched by the gesture of President Muizzu to come to the airport to welcome me. I am confident that India-Maldives friendship will scale new heights of progress in the times to come. @MMuizzu — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 25, 2025 From Frosty Ties To A Warm Welcome Back in 2023, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu's rise to power was strongly backed by the 'India Out' campaign - initially spearheaded by former President Abdulla Yameen. This movement, which pushed for reducing Indian influence in the Maldives, became central to Muizzu's electoral strategy. Yet, once the campaign ended and governance began, Muizzu's tone began to shift. The first sign of that change came during the UN COP28 climate summit in Dubai, where he met Prime Minister Modi. That meeting laid the foundation for this current visit - and perhaps a new chapter in India-Maldives relations. But before diplomacy took centre stage, it was something much smaller, a Twitter storm that led to a drop in Maldives tourism by a massive 42 per cent. #BoycottMaldives It all began with PM Modi's picturesque post on social media about Lakshadweep in January 2024. Lakshadweep, which falls under the Indian subcontinent, is part of the same island chain in the Laccadive Sea as the Maldives. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) In that post, the Prime Minister encouraged Indians to ' dekho apna desh ' and explore India's own tropical gems. But this simple message snowballed into something bigger. A few offhand comments by Maldivian officials on Indian social media users quickly turned it into a big digital controversy. Almost instantly, Indians hit back online using hashtags such as #BoycottMaldives and #VisitLakshadweep on social media. The #BoycottMaldives trend exited social media and entered IRL when senior CEOs also started urging people to not visit the Island. For instance, popular online ticketing platforms such as EaseMyTrip, MakeMyTrip, and Ixigo took part in the row in their own way. EaseMyTrip: Suspended all flight bookings to the Maldives. The company's co-founder and CEO, Nishant Pitti, announced on X (formerly Twitter) that this was done "in solidarity with our nation" and actively encouraged Indian travelers to consider domestic destinations like Lakshadweep instead. MakeMyTrip: Noted a massive surge (3,400%) in searches for Lakshadweep following the controversy and capitalised on this interest by launching a "Beaches of India" campaign, promoting Indian alternatives to the Maldives, with discounts and special offers for Indian destinations. Ixigo: Another major online travel agency, Ixigo, reported a 2,900% increase in Lakshadweep-related searches and participated in the social media discourse encouraging tourism within India. Additionally, the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) issued an appeal to Indian trade associations, urging them to stop promoting the Maldives and to divert travel interest toward Lakshadweep, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, and other regional destinations. And unlike most online outrage, this one left a mark where it hurt the most - tourism. Maldives Loses Its Sparkle Among Indian Travellers In 2024, Indian tourist arrivals to the Maldives fell by approximately 42% compared to the previous year. India, which had been the top source market for Maldivian tourism in recent years, tumbled to fifth place. It was a shocking drop for a destination that, until recently, seemed to have Indian travellers wrapped around its turquoise fingers. From 2017 to 2022, Indian tourist arrivals grew sharply, thanks to bolstered tourism marketing, increased flight options, and celebrity endorsements (we'll get into the details in a bit). The highest ever Indian footfall was recorded in 2022, when over 2.4 lakh tourists visited. Indians even made up more than 22% of all tourist arrivals during peak years. Then came the dip. By early 2024, out of overall Maldives tourist arrivals, India's share had shrunk to just 5%. Diplomatic tensions, online controversies, and the alternative hype around Lakshadweep contributed to the decline. Let's look at the numbers, to understand better: (* 2025 figure is an AI projection based on arrivals during the first quarter of the year and available industry trends; final numbers may vary) However, now, with PM Modi's official visit and a renewed effort from both countries to improve relations, there's cautious optimism in the air. Ministry of Tourism Maldives continues to target Indian travellers with ambitious marketing, with new air routes being discussed again. In December 2024, Air India also launched daily flights to the Maldives from Mumbai and Delhi. Some Indian travel companies have even resumed aggressive promotions with special packages and discounts in rupees, starting at Rs 38,000 for 3-night stays. However, the lost numbers won't be regained in an instant. While the Maldives had set a goal of attracting over 3 lakh Indian tourists for the year 2025, current trends suggest it may take a couple of years to get even halfway back to that mark. Why Maldives Became A Hit With Indians Over the last decade, the Maldives transformed from a niche luxury honeymoon spot into an aspirational must-visit for Indian tourists across age groups. It wasn't just couples celebrating weddings or anniversaries - families, solo travellers, friend groups, and even influencers joined the bandwagon. Here's why: Bollywood's Love Affair When celebrities such as Kareena Kapoor Khan, Tiger Shroff, Alia Bhatt, and countless others began sharing glamorous photos from their Maldivian getaways, Indians took notice. Maldives became the backdrop for everything. In June 2025, Actor Katrina Kaif was also appointed as the global brand ambassador for 'Visit Maldives'. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alia Bhatt 💛 (@aliaabhatt) The craze further rose when movies like Ek Villain, Ram Setu and Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya, also starring Katrina Kaif, were shot in the Island. Instagram Influencers Followed Let's be honest, the Maldives looks fantastic on the 'gram. With water villas, infinity pools, coral reefs and drone-worthy panoramas, every photo screams wanderlust. Travel influencers and family relatives turned it into the ultimate backdrop for breathtaking photos, and soon it became the place to visit on everyone's bucket list. Accessible Air Travel Direct flights from major Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kochi, and Bengaluru made trip to the Maldives incredibly convenient. In fact, in the late 2010s and early 2020s, budget carriers and new routes brought prices down drastically. Today, you can find a round trip flight to the Maldives for around Rs 20,000. Visa-Free And Covid-Safe Branding Unlike many destinations that were closed or cumbersome during the pandemic, the Maldives reopened early and welcomed Indian tourists with visa-free entry. At a time when the world was still wary of travel, the Maldives was marketing itself as a safe, luxurious escape. And it worked. Quite brilliantly. So, is the Maldives's romance with Indian travellers over? Or, will PM Modi's current state visit usher in a new era in the island nation's tourism chapter?
News18
7 days ago
- Business
- News18
Rebooting Paradise Inc: Why Modi's Visit Is A Booster Shot For Maldives
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi sets foot on Maldivian soil now, the entire region watches: can this reset patch up old wounds and bring back the lifeblood of Maldivian prosperity? The Maldives — archipelago, paradise, icon of luxury. For decades, its white sands and turquoise lagoons have lured the world's travellers, with Indian tourists forming the foundation of its post-pandemic boom. Yet, not very long ago, a diplomatic spat with India threatened to unravel its greatest success story. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi sets foot on Maldivian soil now, the entire region watches: can this reset patch up old wounds and bring back the lifeblood of Maldivian prosperity? The Shadow of a Spat The economic importance of tourism to the Maldives is almost impossible to overstate. It accounts for more than a quarter of GDP and underpins livelihoods for tens of thousands. In recent years, Indian tourists—who overtook even the Chinese in arrival numbers – were the engine of the industry. But at the start of 2024, that engine sputtered. What sparked the downturn? Sometimes, all it takes is a tweetstorm. After PM Modi visited Lakshadweep – India's own picture-perfect islands – Maldivian officials responded with a cascade of undiplomatic remarks, some laced with insult. The reaction in India was swift and nationwide. Major travel sites suspended bookings. Indian celebrities, travel influencers and ordinary citizens alike amplified a call for a #BoycottMaldives campaign, redirecting attention – and crucially, holiday budgets – towards Lakshadweep and other domestic destinations. This hit the Maldives where it hurt most. The Indian market, responsible for more than 200,000 annual visitors in 2023, suddenly dried up – arrivals plummeted, airlines dropped routes, and hoteliers stared at empty rooms. Lakshadweep: A Strategic Counter and a Symbol Modi's Lakshadweep sojourn was not merely a personal vacation but, in the context of the Maldives' then growing anti-India stance, a calculated signal. Lakshadweep, long overshadowed by the Maldives, was cast into the spotlight as a pristine and viable Indian alternative. PM Modi's enthusiastic social media posts and his government's investment in infrastructure and marketing underlined a new message: India had its own paradise to offer, and the nation's 1.4 billion people could do more with their wallets than just protest from the sidelines. Travel tech giants like EaseMyTrip made symbolic—even patriotic—stands, halting bookings to the Maldives. In days, Lakshadweep saw a 3,400 per cent surge in travel searches, while local islands in the Maldives turned uncharacteristically quiet. Even India's trader community joined the boycott, pausing non-essential business with Maldivian partners. Economic Fallout: A Case Study in Interdependence For the Maldives, the episode underscored just how symbiotic its relationship with India had become. By mid-2024, Indian visitor numbers had nosedived, pushing India down to sixth place among the Maldives' tourism source markets. From almost 210,000 Indian arrivals in 2023, the numbers halved within months. For Maldivian resorts and guesthouse downturn meant anxious calls, abandoned tables, and, worst of all, discarded investment plans. Tourism is deeply embedded in the Maldivian economy; shockwaves travel quickly. With revenues sagging, the government's ambitious economic targets started looking far-fetched. President Mohamed Muizzu, who had built his campaign on being more independent of India and closer to China, was forced into damage-control mode. Three ministers were suspended, and official apologies flew over the Indian Ocean, but the harm was already felt by thousands of local workers. From 'India Out' to 'Welcome India': Why Modi's Visit Matters Now PM Modi's state visit, the first such high-level engagement since the spat, comes with both symbolism and substance. Modi will be the guest of honour at the Maldives' 60th Independence Day, marking a powerful endorsement of the relationship's enduring value. In the lead-up to the visit, both sides have showcased their willingness to recalibrate. The Maldivian tourism ministry launched the 'Welcome India" initiative, with new roadshows across Indian metros and airline partnerships to restore direct air links. Plans include appointing an Indian celebrity brand ambassador and developing new tourism products tailored to the Indian market. Behind the scenes, trade, investment, and financial assistance from India have helped the Maldives avoid the worst, providing crucial balance-of-payments support and funding for major infrastructure. Former President Mohamed Nasheed's candid admission— 'If not for India, we would have gone default"—resonates with investors and policymakers, who know that stability is the foundation of prosperity in an island nation so exposed to global tides. The Road Ahead: Confidence, Investment, and the Rebirth of Paradise Rebooting the Maldives as 'Paradise Inc." after a bruising diplomatic row is no overnight task. Consumer confidence, once shaken, can take time to rebuild, especially in the fickle world of high-end tourism. Yet there are reasons for optimism: top videos View all Recovery Signals: Travel companies have resumed Maldives bookings, and Indian arrivals are trending upwards again. The Maldivian government now targets 300,000 Indian tourists in 2025, a bold yet plausible aspiration if current trends hold. Renewed Investment: Greater stability and better relations invariably mean a return of investor appetite. With Indian visitors returning, hotel groups, airlines, and allied businesses in both countries are showing renewed interest in capacity expansion and new partnerships. Strategic Vision: Both nations appear ready to return to a mutually beneficial model, intertwining tourism with infrastructure development, blue economy projects, and regional security confidence. The saga of the boycott reveals how quickly trust can be broken – and how hard it is to recapture. For the Maldives, it is a sobering reminder: the paradise economy floats on goodwill, not just turquoise tides. The quick diplomatic reset and Modi's visit are more than photo-ops; they represent a deliberate effort to reboot this trust. With investor confidence returning and Indian families once again weighing Maldivian holidays, the archipelago's battered but resilient tourism industry has every chance to set sail anew. About the Author Sanbeer Singh Ranhotra Sanbeer Singh Ranhotra is a producer and video journalist at Network18. He is enthusiastic about and writes on both national affairs as well as geopolitics. tags : India-Maldives relations Maldives pm narendra modi Straight Talk view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 25, 2025, 11:40 IST News opinion Straight Talk | Rebooting Paradise Inc: Why Modi's Visit Is A Booster Shot For Maldives Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Mint
14-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
Turkey, facing backlash over Pakistan support, has deep ties with Indian aviation
Over the last few weeks, the success of Operation Sindoor saw a fallout on social media, which was beyond the war of perception which was being fought. The trend to boycott Turkey, on the lines of Boycott Maldives, took over social media. This is not the first time that such trends have taken over social media in recent history. In response, Cox & Kings and Ixigo decided to suspend bookings to Turkey (along with a few other countries) from their platform. As lists of brands which are Turkish and available in India started doing rounds on social media and WhatsApp, the partnership of IndiGo and Turkish Airlines also became the centre of discussion. As reports of Turkish drones used by Pakistan against India, open support by Turkey to Pakistan and the flight path of military planes flying between Turkey and Pakistan, speculated to carry military equipment or drones, became public, there were renewed calls for boycotting Turkey. Turkey has been selling military hardware to Pakistan, among other countries. Interestingly, Turkey is a member of NATO. While the boycott calls may be new, Turkey has a history of supporting Pakistan, and this is often cited as a reason for the airline not being able to add flights to India, as the bilateral air services agreement has not been revised for a while. IndiGo, the largest airline in India, has had a codeshare arrangement with Turkish Airlines since late 2018. In May 2023, IndiGo inducted the first damp-leased widebody from Turkish Airlines. The airline also has a few damp-leased Turkish-registered planes that come in from Corendon Airlines to tide over the capacity shortage. Air India, a Star Alliance member like Turkish Airlines, has had an interline with Turkish Airlines for an even longer time, with flights available for sale on Turkish Airlines' website and other channels. SpiceJet has in the past utilised the services of airlines from Turkey to operate on damp lease in times of capacity shortages. Turkish Technic has tie-ups with both Air India and IndiGo. Recently, Air India's B777 aircraft was in Turkey as part of an agreement covering nose-to-tail base maintenance operations. In February this year, Turkish Airlines signed a deal with Air India Express covering the component support and solution needs of 190 Boeing aircraft. The same month, Turkish Technic and IndiGo signed an agreement to cover the delivery checks of IndiGo's 10+ Airbus A320neo aircraft. Turkish Technic had then mentioned that the two entities are in advanced stages of discussions for another agreement covering the Landing Gear Overhaul of IndiGo's A320neo fleet. This was following a similar agreement in October 2024 for redelivery checks. Celebi is a large name in ground handling in India. The company entered India in 2008 and has since expanded rapidly. It is present in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Goa, Chennai, and Kannur. The agency has handled high-profile events like the G20 in Delhi, where it provided ground handling services for the VIPS. The boycott calls on social media are not new. There were similar calls against China, post Galwan clash in 2020 and with the Maldives after the heated election campaign there, with one of the slogans used being 'India Out'. Only 130,805 Indians visited the Maldives in 2024, as compared to 209,193 Indians in 2023. This followed the 'Boycott Maldives' trend on social media in early 2024 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Lakshadweep in January 2024. This is a drop of 37 per cent, which also shows in terms of air traffic and flight capacity between India and the Maldives. The Indian government's Department of Commerce data shows that in 2024, India exported $15,141.01 million of goods and services to China, while India imported $109,359.28 million worth from China. The numbers stood at $17,122.02 million of exports and $68,350 million of imports in 2019, the last full year pre-COVID and pre-Galwan clashes, indicating that. India's total imports have increased from $485,949.14 million in 2019 to $718,163.07 million in 2024, a growth of nearly 1.5 times. Its imports from China have surged 1.6 times during the same period, showing that the growth has been in line with overall trade. What is more important to note is that with a market share of over 90 per cent as IndiGo and Air India group combine, a passenger in India cannot avoid the two airlines and thus the airlines will not be commercially impacted for any such decisions that individuals may take. In the end, what drives companies to make decisions is commerce, and it seems amply clear that the airlines will not have to face it in domestic skies. IndiGo would definitely be monitoring the future bookings to see the impact on its two flights a day to Turkey from India. Like in the case of the Maldives, flights are pulled out only if there is a commercial impact. Will it be in this case? Time will tell.
