Did PM Modi Just Put the Maldives in Check? Google Lookups related to Lakshadweep Explode

In 2021, the Covid-19 pandemic’s effects were still evident in India’s travel and tourist industry. On Twitter, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged everyone to visit the tulip garden in Jammu and Kashmir, which is situated at the base of the Zabarwan mountain, and experience the kind hospitality of the locals there. There would be an influx of tourists to the tourist-starved Valley after that one tweet on Kashmir tulips.

The PM seems to have taken similar action at the start of 2024, this time with regard to Lakshadweep, a tropical archipelago consisting of 36 atolls and coral reefs in the Laccadive Sea, off the coast of Kerala.

In Malayalam and Sanskrit, the term Lakshadweep translates to “a hundred thousand islands.” It is one of the most beautiful spots in India because of the serene beaches, crystal-clear blue sea, white sands, kind locals, and environment that has been spared from the effects of excessive commercialization.

Thus far, visitors have been deterred by visitation restrictions, onerous procedures, and a lack of awareness. According to data, 1,00,000 international visitors visited Lakshadweep in 2022. Compared to the previous high of merely 4,000 in 2021, this record represents an increase. Regarding Lakshadweep, domestic visitors have likewise not been very forthcoming.

However, images of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi snorkeling, strolling on powdery white sand, or just lounging on a pristine beach overlooking a huge blue ocean have gone viral, sparking a sharp increase in Google searches.

Google “LAKSHADWEEP” in India
Prime Minister Modi visited the island on Wednesday, and India was occupied with researching the relatively new holiday destination on Google. The term “Lakshadweep” ranked eighth in India’s Google searches on Wednesday. That day, there were almost fifty thousand searches.

On January 2 and 3, Modi visited Lakshadweep to officially open the Kochi-Lakshadweep Islands Submarine Optical Fiber Connection and to dedicate other national development projects. He took in the island’s splendor while he was there and encouraged others to explore it.

“Lakshadweep has to be on your list for those who wish to embrace the adventurer in them,” he said. Modi said, “Lakshadweep is not just a group of islands; it’s a timeless legacy of traditions and a testament to the spirit of its people.” He made a compelling argument for the island, just as he did for J&K in 2021.

The prime minister uploaded several pictures of himself snorkeling after diving to examine the reefs and aquatic life. Within minutes after being uploaded, the pictures became viral.

India looked up “Lakshadweep island,” “Andaman,” “Lakshadweep flight,” “Lakshadweep airport,” and “Kochi to Lakshadweep” among other terms often while searching for additional information about Lakshadweep.

Google Trends data, which indicates the number of searches for “Lakshadweep” between December 29, 2023, and January 4, 2024, was analyzed by News18. There weren’t many searches from December 29 to January 3, but on January 4, that number shot up.

HOSTILE MALDIVES WERE CHECKMATED BY MODI?
Indians’ increasing interest in the island on the internet is said to be a sign that Lakshadweep is seeing a spike in both local and foreign tourism.

The striking parallels between Lakshadweep and the Maldives include shimmering lagoons, beautiful, unspoiled beaches, and an abundance of coral. However, a growing number of Indians are choosing to go to the Maldives, making India one of its largest markets. India remained its top market in 2021 and 2022, with approximately 2.91 lakh and 2.41 lakh arrivals of Indian tourists, respectively. These numbers seem excessive, given that 2021 was the peak year for COVID-19. That represented corresponding market shares of 23% and 14.4%. With 1,00,915 visitor arrivals (until June 13, 2023), India continued to be a popular source market for the Maldives last year.

However, the Maldives have been behaving hostilely lately, which raises questions about India’s security as a country. There is a perception that the Maldives’ new leadership is wooing China. President Muizzu of the Maldives chose China for his second official visit after Turkey. It is believed that China and Turkey are working against India’s interests.

The Maldives said in December of last year that it will not extend its agreement with India for hydrographic surveys. During PM Modi’s visit to the Maldives in June 2019, the agreement was inked. Even before assuming office, Muizzu’s party has been working to get Indian soldiers out of ten island states. When he gained authority, he didn’t back down.

Maldives’ market share would be directly impacted if Modi’s plea and the viral photographs succeed in drawing Indian tourists to Lakshadweep. The cost-conscious Indian tourists would be greatly encouraged by the fact that Lakshadweep is much less expensive than the Maldives. The Maldives, a country whose economy is largely dependent on tourism, would be most severely hit by that.

Although there are still concerns about the bureaucratic “permission raj” and the lack of direct flights from Tier A cities to Lakshadweep, PM Modi’s lengthy X (previously Twitter) thread is considered as a sign of hope for the Indian islands, where these wrinkles would be ironed out by high-level action.

The biggest hospitality business in India, IHCL, which owns Taj Hotels, said last year that it would open two Taj resorts on separate islands in Lakshadweep: Suheli and Kadmat. In 2026, the Greenfield projects are expected to open. The fact that the resorts will also have overwater villas—a feature that is highly sought after by Maldivian resorts—cannot be a coincidence.