A Maldives politician made a controversial remark on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep. In one of his tweets, Zahid Rameez, a member of the Progressive Party of Maldives Senate, mocked the beaches of Lakshadweep Island and questioned whether India’s Union Territory can match the services provided by Maldives.
Reflecting his prejudiced mindset toward Indians, he wrote, “The move is great. However, the idea of competing with us is delusional. How can they provide the service we offer? How can they be so clean? The permanent smell in the rooms will be the biggest downfall.”
Several Indian celebrities and social media influencers have joined an online campaign that calls for a boycott of the Maldives and its tourist spots after some Maldivians, including one minister, posted anti-India comments on X (formerly Twitter). The ongoing tussle involving barbs, trolls, etc. traces its origin to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Lakshadweep, which spurred interest in the Indian island among travel enthusiasts. During his visit, Modi inaugurated several development projects and also explored Lakshadweep’s beautiful beaches. Pictures of Modi while snorkelling in the sea went viral on social media and were top trending on X.
The Maldives, with its stunning turquoise waters and pristine beaches, has long been a favorite destination for Indian travelers. The number of Indians visiting the island nation has been steadily increasing over the years, making it one of the top tourist destinations for Indians. Here’s a quick look at the trend:
- Pre-pandemic boom: In 2019, over 317,000 Indians traveled to the Maldives, marking a significant rise from previous years.
- Pandemic dip: Due to travel restrictions and lockdowns, the number of Indian tourists in the Maldives dropped to around 51,000 in 2020.
- Post-pandemic rebound: With the easing of restrictions, the Maldives saw a surge in Indian tourists again in 2021, with over 115,000 arrivals in the last quarter alone.
However, PM Modi’s attempt to boost tourism in Lakshadweep apparently irked some people in the Maldives, including government officials. Maldives minister Mariyam Shiuna had derided Modi for his Lakshadweep visit, in a now-deleted post on X. Shiuna had encouraged tourists to visit the island country, through the #VisitMaldives trend. Some other Maldivian netizens also posted racist and insulting comments against Indians.
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