MakeMyTrip announced the launch of its “Beaches of India” campaign on Friday, following a 3,400% rise in searches for Lakshadweep on its platform, according to a post on its official page on X (previously Twitter).
Searches for the island increased following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Union Territory on January 2 and 3.
MakeMyTrip announced in its article that it will soon release incentives and discounts for Indian travelers looking to discover India’s beaches. The article added, “This interest in Indian beaches has inspired us to launch a ‘Beaches of India’ campaign on the platform with offers and discounts to encourage Indian tourists to visit the country’s beautiful beaches.” Watch this space!”
NewsFlash: We have observed a 3400% increase in on-platform searches for Lakshadweep ever since Honorable PM’s visit.
— MakeMyTrip (@makemytrip) January 8, 2024
This interest in Indian beaches has inspired us to launch a 'Beaches of India' campaign on the platform with offers and discounts to encourage Indian travellers… pic.twitter.com/4CYb1iApZG
Earlier in the day, EaseMyTrip, another online travel platform also announced that it would be releasing “crazy special-offers” to promote Lakshadweep islands. The post by co-founder Prashant Pitti also stated that, “Water & beaches of Lakshadweep are as good as Maldives/Seychelles.”
PM Modi’s trip to Lakshadweep and row with Maldives
During his tour, PM Modi posted breathtaking photos of Lakshadweep beaches, including one of the prime minister snorkeling. The prime minister hailed the island for its hospitality and lauded its beauty, prompting outrage from Maldivian MPs, who criticized both the PM and India’s tourism sector.
The Prime Minister wrote, “Recently, I had the chance to be with the people of Lakshadweep. I am still in awe of the breathtaking beauty of its islands and the remarkable kindness of its inhabitants. I got the opportunity to engage with individuals from Agatti, Bangaram, and Kavaratti. I’d want to thank the people of the islands for their hospitality. Here are a few peeks, including aerial views from Lakshadweep…”
Following this, many politicians in Maldives blatantly responded that India’s tourism could not compete with the island nation. Politician Zahid Rameez, a council member of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), questioned, “How can they provide the service we offer?” Adding that the comparison was “delusional.”
Mariyam Shiuna, Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Information, and Arts, published a derogatory post (which was later removed) titled “What a clown.” Mr. Narendra, Israel’s puppet, dives with a life jacket.
The Maldives government condemned the statements, noting that they were personal and “do not represent the views of the Government of Maldives.”
However, the hashtag “Boycott Maldives” has already begun to trend on X, with numerous celebrities, like Akshay Kumar, Salman Khan, and John Abraham, supporting the effort and encouraging people to visit Lakshadweep instead of the Maldives.
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