The beauty of Lakshadweep Islands (India).
According to CNBC news agency, although the Maldives government has suspended the three deputy ministers to "cool down" diplomatic tensions, the anger from Indian public opinion has not yet subsided.
Thousands of Indian tourists have canceled their trips to the Maldives, according to The India Express. India's popular travel booking website EaseMyTrip and several travel agents said they were canceling bookings to the Maldives, removing images of the archipelago and recommending that tourists instead look to India's Lakshadweep, Andaman, Nicobar or Sri Lankan islands for vacations.
The Confederation of All India Traders, one of the country's largest trade bodies representing thousands of traders and trade associations in India, also urged its members to stop doing business with Maldives until it issues an apology or guarantees remedial measures.
Statistics for 2023 show that the Maldives is a favorite tourist destination for Indians. More than 1 in 10 visitors to the Maldives are Indian nationals. It is difficult to estimate the exact loss to the Maldives from this new incident, but last year, India brought in $380 million in tourism revenue to the Maldives.
The boycott of the Maldives could lead to a tourism boom in the Lakshadweep Islands, which have become an alternative for Indians. Despite their beauty, Lakshadweep has been less well known to international tourists in recent years. The archipelago, located south of India, consists of 36 main islands, coral reefs that stand out amid clear blue waters and pristine white sand beaches. Many travel sites describe it as a true gem of the Arabian Sea.
Source
Comment (0)