Amid the recent tensions between India and the Maldives, leading online travel agency
EaseMyTrip
has introduced special discount codes that users can use to ease their travel expenses.
In a post on X (previously Twitter), the CEO of EaseMyTrip
Nishant Pitti
, shared the details of these codes.
“Now use discount codes NATIONFIRST or BHARATFIRST at EaseMyTrip to avail better discounts,” he said in a post.
The move comes soon after response to the relations that were strained between the two nations following a series of derogatory remarks by the nations’ political leaders.
EaseMyTrip suspends flight, hotel bookings for Maldives
Following the remarks, EaseMyTrip suspended all flight and hotel bookings for Maldives. “In solidarity with our nation, @EaseMyTrip has suspended all Maldives flight bookings,” Pitti said.
“Water & beaches of Lakshadweep are as good as Maldives/Seychelles We at @EaseMyTrip will come up with crazy special-offers to promote this pristine destination that our PM @narendramodi has recently visited!,” said Pitti in another post.
The travel solutions provider EaseMyTrip also started visit Lakshadweep campaign by #ChaloLakshadweep. Furthermore, various reports also claimed that several Indian tourists have cancelled their scheduled vacations to the island nation.
Meanwhile, Maldives travel body urged EaseMyTrip CEO to reconsider flight booking cancellations. They cited strong bonds with India and the critical role of the Indian market in Maldivian tourism.
The Maldives is reported to be a popular tourist destination among Indian tourists and people from India were the highest among visitors to the Maldives till December 2023.
What Indian tourism body said
The Indian Association of Tour Operators said that the call for a boycott would become apparent within the next 20-25 days.
“Suddenly, there has been no inquiry on Maldives. There are sudden drops. Those who have made payments will not cancel them. We are expecting that people will not book trips to the Maldives,” said Rajiv Mehra, president of the Indian Association of Tour Operators.
English (US) ·