#BoycottMaldives trend on late Sunday night intensified after India's online travel booking & tour company, EaseMyTrip suspended all its flight operations to the island nation in solidarity with India. Not only this, EaseMyTrip also started a new hashtag #ChaloLakshadweep for Indians to promote tourism in India's Union Territory. India-Maldives standoff came to the fore when ministers of the Island nation used derogatory remarks and passed racist slurs against Indians and Narendra Modi after the Prime Minister visited Lakshadweep Island and urged people around the world to visit the beach Island. With #BoycottMaldives trending in multiple countries, True Scoop News brings you the top 5 reasons why Lakshadweep will give you a better vacation experience than Maldives-
1) Cost-friendly but same experience
Before traveling to any other country, especially vacations, everyone checks their budget. While many dream of traveling abroad, India's Lakshadweep Island will give you the same vibe that Maldives provides, and that too at a lower cost. For instance, on MakeMyTrip, a 3-night/4-day vacation starting cost to the Maldives is more than INR 1 lakh per person. On the other hand, the same package to Lakshadweep's starting cost is only INR 23,000 per person.
2) 'Private' Island
While Maldives indeed gives you the taste of luxury with beautiful beach resorts, Lakshadweep gives you the luxury of a private island. Yes! you heard it right. Since, Lakshadweep in highly unexplored, Thinnakara and Bangaram are developed only for tourism. There are neither roads nor villagers on these islands, only a handful of tents or beach resorts, and the staff at your service. As per the report, there are hardly 10 – 15 tourists on the entire island and it virtually makes it a private island during holidays in Lakshadweep Islands.
3) Cleaner water & healthy marine habitat
Due to the high number of tourists, tourists often leave negative feedback. In fact, Maldives islands have often faced difficulties in tackling garbage and landfills. While there is a place only dedicated to that in Maldives, but sometimes, garbage can be seen floating around Maldives islands. On the other hand, the Lakshadweep Islands are known for their rich flora and fauna marine life, and stunning corals. Besides, it is a very delicate region and highly protected by environmentalists and naturalists. There are a plethora of live corals and colorful fishes across the islands.
4) Other Tourist Destinations
Foreigners who are visiting Lakshadweep can also visit India since the Island is part of Indian territory. It means your trip to a nice beach vacation won't be restricted to a single place. Kochi is in Kerala, a very popular tourist destination for foreigners and Indians. This gives you an option to visit Kerala before your trip to Lakshadweep Islands. If you are flying from Bangalore, then you may visit the nearby Mysore Palace or Hampi or the National Parks like Bandipur National Park.
5) Maldives losing the 'new' touch
With millions of people visiting Maldives every year, the Island nation is now known to all. Not only this, there are hardly any places that have not been seen by people on social media. Go on Instagram, you will find millions of photos of those places. However, there are only a few pictures of the Lakshadweep Islands. Only a handful of tourists visit the Lakshadweep every year and that's why it is a good option in comparison to Maldives.