- Tuesday, February 25, 2025
MATATO called Indian tourists ‘an indispensable force in the success of the Maldivian tourism sector, providing vital support to guest houses and small to medium-sized enterprises…’
By: Shubham Ghosh
AMID a diplomatic row between India and the Maldives after three ministers of the newly elected government of the island-nation made controversial remarks against prime minister Narendra Modi following his visit to the Indian island chains of Lakshadweep earlier this month, a prominent tourism body of the Indian Ocean archipelago has requested Indian travel agency EaseMyTrip to re-open flight bookings.
On Tuesday (9), the Maldives Association of Tour and Travel Operators (MATATO) called on the Indian agency to overlook the “regrettable” remarks, saying they “did not reflect sentiments of Maldivians in general”.
The statement, which was addressed to EaseMyTrip co-founder Nishant Pitti, spoke about the significance of Indian tourists who are among the top foreign visitors to the picturesque island-nation in the post-Covid-19 times.
Read: Amid India row, Maldives president urges China to send more tourists to his country
Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators writes to EaseMyTrip CEO Nishant Pitti to re-open flight bookings to Maldives pic.twitter.com/ojCxpPar7b
— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2024
In the statement in which MATATO called Indians as “cherished brothers and sisters”, it said, “In expressing our heartfelt gratitude for the enduring friendship and partnership that defines the relationship between the Maldives and India, we want you to know the bonds connecting our nations transcend politics. We consider our Indian counterparts… as cherished brothers and sisters.”
Read: Indian Chamber of Commerce seeks Maldives’ boycott amid row
“Tourism stands as the lifeblood of the Maldives, contributing over two-thirds of our GDP and providing livelihoods to approximately 44,000 Maldivians who work in the sector. The potential adverse impact on tourism holds the power to unleash severe repercussions on our economy,” the statement, bearing names of MATATO’s president Abdulla Ghiyas and vice president Mohamed Shaz Waleed, said.
The tourism body also called Indian tourists “an indispensable force in the success of the Maldivian tourism sector, providing vital support to guest houses and small to medium-sized enterprises…”
Pitti posted in the wake of the controversy that they took the decision to suspend flights to the Maldives “in solidarity with our nation…”. Several Indian celebrities besides common people slammed the Maldives and sought its boycott.
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
On Sunday (7), when the row erupted following the remarks posted on social media by the Maldivian government officials who were later suspended, MATATO said efforts to develop Lakshadweep’s tourism would not affect the Maldivian tourism industry, the island-nation’s SunOnline International reported.
Many claimed that Modi’s promoting Lakshadweep would become a setback for the Maldives which banks on tourism for its economic growth.
In a statement, MATATO said efforts to improve Lakshadweep’s tourism would prove complementary to Maldives’ tourism and create opportunities for both regions.
“The synergies between the two destinations can enhance the overall appeal for travelers and encourage more cruise liners to explore this vibrant and culturally rich region,” the statement read, according to the SunOnline International report.
Data from the Maldives tourism industry said more than 200,000 Indians visited the archipelago last year and more than 450,000 went to the tropical paradise in the past two years.
The Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI), also slammed the “derogatory comments” directed at the Indian prime minister.
Meanwhile, Maldivian president Mohamed Muizzu, seen as pro-China, appealed to Beijing to “intensify” efforts to send more tourists to his country. The leader who assumed office in November and asked India to remove its troops from Maldivian soil, said at a meeting of business leaders in China, where he is currently on a state visit, “China was our (Maldives’) number one market pre-Covid, and it is my request that we intensify efforts for China to regain this position.”
Maldivian media later reported the two countries had signed a project worth $50 million (£39.2 million) to develop an integrated tourism zone in the Indian Ocean island.
However, the row saw a number of former presidents of Maldives accusing the Muizzu government of hurting the country’s relations with India.
