According to MakeMyTrip, a whopping 3,400 percent increase in on-platform searches for Lakshadweep tourism has been attributed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit.
During PM Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep, Maldivian politicians ridiculed him. However, the Maldives government rejected the derogatory remarks, saying they did not represent Male’s views.
Earlier on Monday, EaseMyTrip, an Indian online travel agency, suspended all bookings for flights to the Maldives.
On Monday morning, EaseMyTrip founder Nishant Pitti wrote on X that the decision was taken “in solidarity with our nation”.
Nishant Pitti tweeted, “EaseMyTrip has suspended all Maldives flight bookings. TravelUpdate #SupportingNation.
In response to the boycott Maldives campaign, another online travel company announced that all Maldives flight bookings would be suspended.
After Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Lakshadweep, MakeMyTrip reported a massive surge in on-platform searches for the union territory Lakshadweep tourism.
A post on X said, “NewsFlash: On-platform searches for Lakshadweep tourism have increased 3400% since Honorable PM’s visit.”
As a result of such a large search response and heightened interest in Indian beaches, MakeMyTrip launched the ‘Beaches of India’ campaign to promote the beaches of the country and to offer several offers and discounts.
As a result of this interest in Indian beaches, we launched a ‘Beaches of India’ campaign with offers and discounts to encourage Indian travellers to explore them.
MakeMyTrip’s Chief Marketing and Business Officer, Raj Rishi Singh, said, “Lakshadweep has seen an unprecedented 3400% increase in on-platform searches since PM’s visit. The ‘Beaches of India’ campaign was founded to provide knowledge about the beaches of India to our customers. Under this campaign, we are also offering remarkable discounts and deals…”
A boycott of Maldives campaign led another online travel company, EaseMyTrip, to suspend all Maldives flight bookings earlier in the day. In solidarity with our nation, @EaseMyTrip has suspended all Maldives flight bookings, according to Nishant Pitti, co-founder and CEO of the company.
According to Pitti, ‘country is more important than business’ and other homegrown tourism companies must follow suit.
Several Maldivian leaders mocked PM Modi during his recent visit to Lakshadweep and made derogatory remarks about him. Male’s top opposition leaders slammed the ruling establishment over the row after India strongly raised the issue with Male.
The Maldivian deputy minister of youth empowerment, Mariyam Shiuna, made a mocking and disrespectful reference to PM Modi in a now-deleted post.
Male’s derogatory remarks prompted a furious response in India, with the Maldives government rejecting them, claiming they did not reflect the views of Male. In addition to suspending three deputy ministers, the Maldivian government also condemned PM Modi’s social media posts on Sunday.
The bookings of some people who had planned a trip to the archipelago were even canceled.
Modi posted several pictures of his visit to the union territory on January 2 along with a description of his snorkeling experience, which he called an ‘exhilarating experience’. In a series of posts on X, PM Modi shared pictures of the white beaches, the pristine blue skies and the ocean and tagged them with a message that read, “For those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them, Lakshadweep has to be on your list.”
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