Amid Maldives Row, MakeMyTrip Launches 'Beaches Of India' Campaign As Search For Lakshadweep Surges By 3,400 Per Cent

On Monday (8 January), MakeMyTrip reported a staggering 3,400 per cent surge in platform searches for Lakshadweep following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the islands.

"We have observed a 3400 per cent increase in on-platform searches for Lakshadweep ever since the Honorable PM's visit. 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 to explore the country's stunning beaches. Keep watching this space!" MakeMyTrip said in a post on X.

Following Modi's visit, Lakshadweep has risen to prominence as a favoured tourist hotspot.

Numerous individuals began drawing parallels between the Indian island and internationally renowned beach locales such as the Maldives and Seychelles.

The remarks made by Maldivian ministers against the Indian prime minister on social media closely followed this event, sparking a diplomatic dispute between the two countries.

On Monday, the Maldivian ambassador to India was called into the foreign affairs ministry due to grave concerns over comments made against Prime Minister Narendra Modi by several Maldivian ministers on social media, according to sources.

On Sunday, the Maldivian government put three deputy ministers on suspension due to their offensive posts on social media aimed at Modi.

The trio of deputy ministers expressed criticism towards Modi for his X post after his trip to Lakshadweep. They interpreted it as an effort to portray the Union Territory as a substitute tourist spot to the Maldives.

Maldivian media reports have revealed that deputy ministers Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna, and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid from the youth ministry have been suspended from their positions.