Skift Take
Soneva resorts Chief Executive Officer Sonu Shivdasani's comment is a testament to the fact that tourism industry has taken a hit following India-Maldives diplomatic dispute.
The Skift India Newsletter is your go-to platform for all news related to travel, tourism, airlines, and hospitality in India.
Amid the diplomatic dispute between India and Maldives, Sonu Shivdasani, CEO of resort chain Soneva, wrote about the potential impact on the tourism industry, and hoped for a reconciliation.
Shivdasani, a prominent face in the Maldives hospitality industry, called the remarks made recently on social media by three junior Maldivian ministers "disparaging."
"As a Person of Indian Origin (PIO), I found the comments rude, offensive, and xenophobic. And as the founder of Soneva, the uproar they have caused, leading to calls in India to boycott Maldives, has been deeply concerning. I was relieved to hear that the Maldivian government has suspended the deputy ministers and clarified that their remarks in no way represent official policy," Shivdasani said on social media.
The Maldives government had distanced itself from the remarks deemed anti-Indian in a statement that read: "The Government of Maldives is aware of derogatory remarks on social media platforms against foreign leaders and high-ranking individuals. These opinions are personal."
Shivdasani added that he hopes the Maldives government can mend fences with India. He said as a hotelier based in the Maldives, he could only say how deeply sorry he was and underscored how much he welcomed and appreciated Indian tourists. "Soneva, for its part, will always welcome Indian guests with open arms, as we ha