EaseMyTrip CEO vs Cong's Kerala unit over ‘resumption’ of bookings to Maldives: ‘We took immediate action'

“The money will come and go. But our nationalistic approach will never change,” Nitshant Pitti wrote on X.

Updated on: Jun 2, 2024, 19:54:42 IST

By HT News Desk, New Delhi

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

EaseMyTrip CEO Nishant Pitti has hit back at the Congress party's Kerala unit after the grand old party called out the online travel portal for “quietly resuming bookings to Maldives.”

Also Read: EaseMyTrip quietly restarted bookings to Maldives after boycott? Co-founder says…

Pitti, who also co-founded the company, remarked that the firm's “nationalistic approach will never change.” He, however, acknowledged that a few bookings to the Indian Ocean archipelago were made through its platform in recent days.

“Dear @INCIndia, thank you for your concern. @EaseMyTrip has halted Maldives bookings from January 8th until today. Some bookings did occur between May 16th-26th, but we took immediate action and got them removed,” he said on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday.

“Why focus only on us? Are you not aware of other Chinese-owned travel portals that never stopped promoting Maldives in the first place? We have been serving for the last 16 years without any foreign investment,” he added.

Pitti further asserted that EaseMyTrip “was here for the long haul” and that “it's not easy for us to go.”

EaseMyTrip's decision in January to suspend bookings to the Maldives had come days after a massive diplomatic row erupted over “offensive” social media posts by three Maldivian deputy ministers – they were subsequently suspended – in wake of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Lakshadweep.

The relationship between the two countries has been at an all-time low under the presidency of Mohamed Muizzu, the incumbent Maldivian President who is widely seen as a “pro-China” figure in New Delhi.

Also Read: Don’t let Maldives go the Nepal way

EaseMyTrip's “boycott” of the Maldives, made in solidarity with the Indian government and Prime Minister Modi, impacted 240,000 annual bookings through its platform. However, in the fiscal year 2024, the company posted its highest-ever EBITDA, amounting to ₹2282 million, a 19% year-on-year growth.

(With ANI inputs)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Maldives

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.