Chiming in on the controversy sparked by tweets from now-suspended deputy ministers of the Maldives government – they made offensive social media posts on prime minister Narendra Modi and India in general after the PM’s endorsement of Lakshadweep as a tourist destination – Indian business leaders wondered why Indian tourists ‘pay so much’ for the island nation, that too despite destinations such as Lakshadweep and Andaman in the country itself.

“The answer is (1) infrastructure and (2) marketing. The PM’s recent visit has put the spotlight on these destinations. Our hotel brands have shown us time and again that we know how to do luxury like no one else. Let’s take the best of Indian hospitality to build a world class tourism experience,” Radhika Gupta, MD and CEO, Edelweiss Mutual Fund, posted on X.

Adar Poonawalla, CEO, Serum Institute of India (SII) wrote: “Our country has so many magnificent tourist destinations, with unimaginable potential; yet to be fully explored. Can any of you guess this Indian tourist haven, just from the pictures I’ve posted?”

Meanwhile, travel portal EaseMyTrip announced it was putting on hold all flight bookings to the archipelago.

“In solidarity with our nation, @EasMyTrip has suspended all Maldives flight bookings,” Co-founder and CEO Nishant Pitti stated on the social media platform.