Maldives Faces Tourism Boycott After Officials Mock Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
The Maldives is facing a potential tourism boycott from India following an incident in which three Maldivian officials mocked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. After Modi posted images on social media praising the picturesque scenery of a beach destination that did not include the Maldives, three Maldivian officials responded, describing Modi as a “clown,” “terrorist,” and a “puppet of Israel.” The Maldivian government swiftly moved to suspend the three officials, emphasizing that the derogatory comments were personal opinions and did not represent the official views of the Maldives.
The controversy comes at a sensitive time as Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu embarks on a five-day visit to China, with plans to enhance business, professional, and socio-economic development. Muizzu’s pro-China stance and pledge to end his predecessor’s “India first” policy reflect the delicate balancing act the Maldives is playing as it navigates its relationships with both India and China.
The boycott is significant for the Maldives, which relies heavily on tourism, with India accounting for a large portion of its tourism revenue. Indian tourists made over 209,000 trips to the Maldives in 2023, and the recent comments from Maldivian officials have sparked outrage among Indian tourists and public figures, prompting some to cancel their trips to the islands.
The boycott also gained traction on social media, with hashtags such as #BoycottMaldives and #ChaloLakshadweep (Let’s go to Lakshadweep) encouraging Indian tourists to explore local destinations instead of visiting the Maldives. Prominent figures from Bollywood actors to cricketers have joined the call to support domestic tourism, while Indian travel site EaseMyTrip has suspended flight bookings to the Maldives in solidarity with the boycott.
The Indian High Commission in Maldives has expressed its concerns to the Maldives Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the officials’ comments. Michael Kugelman of the Wilson Center in Washington noted that the incident highlighted the importance of maintaining strong relations with both India and China for the Maldives, underscoring the challenges the country faces in order to strike a balance between the two regional powers.