“Stop Promoting Maldives…”: Indian Chamber Of Commerce To Tourism Bodies

In an “appeal to Boycott Maldives”, the Aviation and Tourism Committee of Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), appealed to all members and tourism trade associations to stop promoting Maldives in view of the anti-India feelings expressed by the three ministers of Maldives.

In a statement released by the chairman of the Committee Dr Subhash Goyal, the Chamber asked associations like Indian Association of Tour Operators (TATO), Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI), Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI), Association of Domestic Tour Operators (ADTOI) and MICE Agents to divert all such enquiries to Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands “which are even better than Maldives in many ways and other destinations which can be promoted in the Indian ocean area are Srilanka, Mauritius, Bali, Phuket etc.”.

The Chamber has also said the comments from ministers come “in spite of the fact that Indians are one of the biggest sources of foreign exchange and creation of jobs in the Maldives.”

“I also appeal to all the Indian carriers operating to Maldives to suspend their operation and seriously think of operating to Lakshadweep Islands under the Udaan Scheme and the members of FHRAI and the Hotel Association of India to seriously look at investing in Lakshadweep Islands as in the future it will give you better returns on your investment than Maldives,” the Dr Goya said in the statement.

He also said that the appeal has been made as a patriotic Indian in the larger national interest.

After Maldives ministers’ made the “derogatory comments” on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep, the island nation has suspended ministers Maryam Shiuna, Malsha Shareef and Mahzoom Majid.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs today issued a statement on the stand of the Government of India in relation to some posts on social media that are insulting to neighboring India. Those who made such posts on social media while in government positions have now been suspended from their jobs,” the Maldives government said in a statement.

Earlier in the day, Indian travel company EaseMyTrip has decided to suspend all Maldives flight bookings.