Lakshadweep witness the lowest air traffic in 2023...

Despite 2023 recording the lowest number of aircraft movements to the archipelago since 2015, excluding the archipelago 2020, according to AAI data, interest in visiting the island chain has increased as a result of prime minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to lakshadweep and disparaging remarks made by three Maldivian ministers against india and PM Modi. According to the Airports Authority of india (AAI), the Agatti Island airport in lakshadweep had the fewest flights from april to november 2023—the fewest in eight years.

As per the AAI data, the Agatti airport registered 1,080 aircraft movements during this time, compared to 1,482 during April-November 2022 and 1,202 during April-November 2021. With the exception of 2020, when travel and tourism were hampered by the COVID-19 epidemic, the pattern has been similar in previous years. The quantity of aircraft movements—that is, the number of takeoffs and landings at a specific airport—must be remembered. The act of taking off and landing once is regarded as two separate airplane movements.

The Maldivian government's three junior ministers made offensive remarks about prime minister Modi and india after the latter posted some images of the visit to social media in an effort to promote tourism in the archipelago, putting the island chain in the spotlight recently. Due to the issue, interest in the archipelago was sparked by some indian celebrities expressing their plans to take a holiday to Lakshadweep.

However, industry leaders stated that a lack of direct connectivity, as well as a scarcity of hotels and tourist amenities, would discourage people from traveling to the islands.

Owner of Apex Travel & Tours VP Narula stated, "Unlike lakshadweep, indians now have more direct connectivity to various beach destinations in and around the country," as reported by the Hindustan Times. "Direct air connectivity offers convenience as well as cost savings for travelers," he continued.