Maldives travel body urges EasyMyTrip to re-open flight bookings, extends 'sincere apology'

With the 'boycott Maldives' trend refusing to die down online, the island's tourist body association urged Indian-based travel firm EasemyTrip to re-open flight bookings to Maldives.

In a letter to the firm's CEO Nishant Pitti on January 9, the Maldives Association of Tour and Travel Operator extended its "sincere apology" for the "regrettable comments" made against Indians and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, adding that the statements made by three ministers do not reflect the 'sentiments of Maldivians in general'.

"MATATO humbly seeks your assistance and support in fostering positive relations and dispelling any misunderstandings that may have arisen and re-open EaseMyTrip flights to the Maldives."

“We want you to know that the bonds connecting our nations transcend politics. We consider our Indian counterparts not just as business associates but as cherished brothers and sisters,” it said in the letter.

Tourism our lifeblood

The association said that tourism "stands as the lifeblood of the Maldives, contributing over two-thirds of our GDP and providing livelihoods to approximately 44,000 Maldivians who work in the sector."

"The potential adverse impact on tourism holds the power to unleash severe repercussions on our economy," it added.

Calling Indian tourists "an indispensable force in the success of the Maldivian tourism sector", MATATO said that they play a vital role in supporting "guest houses and small to medium-sized enterprises..."

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The body said that tourism stands as the "lifeblood of the Maldives, contributing over two-thirds of our GDP and providing livelihoods to approximately 44,000 Maldivians who work directly in the tourism sector."

"The potential adverse impact on tourism holds the power to unleash severe repercussions on our economy, affecting the lives and well-being of many,” the body added in the letter, according to ANI.

Indians top travellers' list

EasemyTrip had suspended flight bookings to Maldives via its website on Monday after three Maldivian ministers derogatory online posts against Modi over his visit to Lakshadweep.

In the last three years, Indians were the top visitors to the Maldives.

According to the Maldives Tourism Ministry statistics, over 17 lakh tourists visited the island nation in 2023, out of which more than 2,09,198 visitors were Indians followed by Russians (2,09,146) and China (1,87,118).

The number of Indian visitors was more than 2.4 lakh in 2022 while over 2.11 lakh Indians flew to the Maldives in 2021.