The Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has called for Indian airlines to suspend flights and tour operators to stop selling packages in order to boycott the Maldives.
In a statement issued today, Dr. Sobash Goyal, the chairman of the Aviation and Tourism Committee of the ICC, urged tourism trade associations to stop promoting the Maldives in light of anti-Indian views expressed by Maldivian government ministers.
"I also appeal to all the Indian carriers operating to Maldives to suspend their operations...and the Hotel Association of India to seriously look at investing in Lakshadweep islands," the statement read.
Associations urged to stop promoting Maldives
- Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO)
- Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI)
- Adventure Tour Operators of India (ATOI)
- Association of Domestic Tour Operators (ADTOI)
- MICE Agents
"[The derogatory remarks by the deputy ministers were made] in spite of the fact that Indians are the one of the biggest sources of foreign exchange and creation of jobs in the Maldives. Please divert all such enquiries to Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands," the statement read.
Tour operators were urged to promote other island tourism destinations in the Indian Oceans instead of the Maldives, including Sri Lanka, Mauritius and Phuket.
