Dr. Subhash Goyal, Chairman of the Aviation & Tourism Committee at India Chamber of Commerce (ICC), has issued an appeal to various travel associations, including Indian Association of Tour Operator (IATO), Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), Travel Agent Federation of India (TAFI), Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI), Association of Domestic Tour Operators (ADTOI) and MICE Agents. The appeal encourages them to cease promoting Maldives due to expressed anti-India sentiments by Maldivian ministers.
Despite Indians being a major source of foreign exchange and job creation in Maldives, Dr. Goyal urges the redirection of tourist interest to Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands, which he claims surpass Maldives in various aspects. Additionally, he suggests alternative destinations in the Indian Ocean area such as Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Bali, and Phuket.
The appeal extends to Indian carriers operating in Maldives, urging them to suspend operations and consider Lakshadweep Islands under the Udaan Scheme. Dr. Goyal also calls upon FHRAI members and the Hotel Association of India to explore investments in Lakshadweep Islands, anticipating better returns compared to Maldives in the future.
Notably, STIC Travels has already been instructed to halt the sale of Maldives packages. Dr. Subhash Goyal frames this appeal as a patriotic initiative aligned with the larger national interest.