#boycottmaldives trends; Google search for Lakshadweep reaches peak in 20 years

Lakshwadeep: #exploreindianislands #boycottmaldives: These are the hashtags trending on social media. From celebrities to tourists, Indians have rediscovered love for Lakshwadeep in a bid to make Maldives pay for its follies.

When did this all start?

Five days ago Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted photos on X of himself snorkeling and walking along a beach in Lakshadweep, a southern Indian island chain in the Laccadive Sea, off the coast of Kerala.

"And those early morning walks along the pristine beaches were also moments of pure bliss. In addition to the scenic beauty, Lakshadweep's tranquility is also mesmerizing. It allowed me to reflect on how to work even harder for the welfare of 140 crore Indians," he posted with his pictures.

Three ministers comment

Soon after, three Maldives officials Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna, and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid who all worked for the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Information and Arts responded to his post, describing Modi as a “clown,” “terrorist” and a “puppet of Israel", in response to a video of promoting tourism in Lakshadweep.

In a statement, the Maldives government said it was aware of “derogatory” comments made on social media but stressed the “opinions are personal” and do not represent its views.

“The government believes that the freedom of expression should be exercised democratically and responsibly, and in ways that do not spread hatred, negativity, and hinder close relationships between the Maldives and its international partners,” it said.

On January 7, the government of the Maldives suspended three deputy ministers after they made derogatory remarks about India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media.

Maldives- a big tourist spot

Maldives, relies heavily on tourism and a large slice of that income comes from India. It is an independent island country in the north-central Indian Ocean. It consists of a chain of about 1,200 small coral islands and sandbanks (some 200 of which are inhabited), grouped in clusters or atolls.

Data shows Indians top the Maldives' tourist arrival figures, with more than two lakh of visiting the island nation every year after the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the Maldives Tourism Ministry statistics, more than 2.09 lakh Indians visited the country in 2023. The number was more than 2.4 lakh in 2022 while over 2.11 lakh Indians flew to the Maldives in 2021. The Maldives was also one of the few countries open for international tourists during the pandemic and nearly 63,000 Indians visited the country in that period.

In 2018, India was the fifth-largest source of tourist arrivals in the Maldives with 90,474 visitors. In 2019, India reached the second spot with nearly double the number (1,66,030) of arrivals compared to the previous year.

Explore Indian Islands

Lakshadweep, the group of 36 islands is known for its exotic and sun-kissed beaches and lush green landscape. The name Lakshadweep in Malayalam and Sanskrit means ‘a hundred thousand islands’. Lakshadweep, an archipelago in the Arabian Sea, is known for its scenic beauty with exotic beaches, coral reefs, and lagoons. "It is a haven for water sports including scuba diving, windsurfing, snorkeling, surfing, water skiing, and yachting.

Amid the row, many prominent personalities including cine stars Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, and Akshay Kumar and cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar, appealed to people on Sunday to explore "Indian islands" and coastal destinations.

Not to be surprised, according to Google Trends, the worldwide search interest for Lakshadweep reached its peak in the last 20 years.

Tata Group's to build two resorts

Tata Group's two resorts are slated to open in 2026 on the islands of Suheli and Kadmat in Lakshadweep. In January last year, the Indian Hotels Company, a subsidiary of Tata Group, announced the signing of two Taj-branded resorts in Lakshadweep.