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BIG STORY JANUARY 19, 2024 | The Indian Eye 4

INDIA-MALDIVES TIES

TROUBLE in

PARADISE

Amid the controversy around the disparaging remarks by some Maldivian ministers against

PM Narendra Modi and calls for boycotting the island nation, Chinese President hosted a
state banquet for Maldivian President. How this row may become more intense now?

OUR BUREAU dian friends in London, who piqued
his interest in visiting a place that is
New Delhi/Male/Beijing
‘completely different’ from Europe.
here is trouble in the Indian Meanwhile, amidst the re-
Ocean region as a row between cent diplomatic tensions between
TIndia and Maldives takes a se- India and the Maldives, Siacle, a
rious turn. China seems to be fishing notable B2B travel marketplace
in troubled waters. startup, has joined other key play-
The trouble began after the Mal- ers in the travel industry in the de-
dives began facing a boycott from cision to suspend the distribution
one of its biggest sources of tourism of Maldives tour and travel pack-
income after three of its officials ages, hotel bookings, and flight
made derogatory remarks against reservations through its platform.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Prioritizing national interests
Foreign tourists, as well as locals, over business considerations, Siacle’s
are now vouching for India’s top management condemned the de-
destinations, including cities, tourist rogatory comments and chose to re-
attractions, and other places while direct their focus. They encouraged
shunning the sun-kissed getaway for travel partners and agents to explore
domestic beaches instead. alternative destinations within India,
A massive row was triggered such as Lakshadweep and the Anda-
after the Maldives deputy minister, man Islands.
along with other cabinet members Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu and his wife Sajidha Mohamed arrive at Xiamen in The positive response to this de-
and government officials, made dis- cision is evident in the completion
paraging and unsavory references to Fujian on a five-day visit to China (ANI) of multiple successful Lakshadweep
PM Modi’s Lakshadweep visit. Since bookings in the past few days. Ad-
then, Indians, including cricketers The locals here, whose bread Sharing her experience of vis- ditionally, there has been a notable
and film celebrities, have come out and butter are derived from the tour- iting Andamans, Elaine Treacy, an increase in booking inquiries for
in open support of promoting local ism sector, applauded Indian tour- Ireland tourist who has been to India Lakshadweep and the Andaman Is-
beach destinations and other tourist ists, who play a key role in generating more than three times, called the In- lands, according to the Siacle team.
spots. revenue for Maldivians. “I went to dian islands ‘amazing’ and ‘beautiful’ The company is actively working to
Several Indians stated they can- Goa and Mumbai in 2007. The first and said that her time on the Indian enhance collaboration with Lakshad-
celled their trips to the Maldives af- impression that I had was that I was island was spent very well. weep and Andamans travel suppliers
ter the row erupted and began a cam- in a different world. Coming from For Ivan Petkov, a visitor from to provide a diverse range of domes-
paign called ‘#BoycottMaldives’. Europe, the experience was altogeth- Bulgaria, the story was a little differ- tic island options for its travel agents.
Amid the ongoing rift between er different. What I loved the most ent. Visiting the Maldives with his Amid the controversy around
India and the Maldives, the foreign was the Indian tradition, culture and family, he was optimistic of visiting the disparaging remarks by Maldivi-
visitors here shared the experiences colors. There are amazing sunsets. India one day, which he had never an ministers and government officials
of their visits to various Indian states I like India a lot. We were there for been before but it was definitely on his against Prime Minister Narendra
and lauded Indian tradition, culture around 10-12 days,” said Franco Bis- bucket list. While speaking with ANI, Modi over his recent visit to Lak-
and color. toni, a tourist from Italy. Ivan revealed that he has a lot of In- Continued on next page... >>

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