Lakshadweep, Maldives, and India

Lakshadweep, with its breathtaking beauty, resembles the Maldives in various ways and holds the potential to replace it in various sectors, including tourism. Lakshadweep and the Maldives both are island territories, with Lakshadweep being a part of India and the Maldives, while being close to India, is not part of it. It is a separate nation and finds itself surrounded by much larger and powerful neighbours in South Asia. Specifically, we examine how the former can take the place of the latter and enhance India’s strategic importance in the region as a regional power.

Illustration by The Geostrata

Lakshadweep, expands over 32 sq km, boasts rich coral reefs and lagoons, making it a compelling tourist destination that can rival the Maldives. Its underwater activities, including snorkelling, diving, wind-surfing, and kayaking, draw adventure seekers and the island's serene atmosphere, characterised by a vast, calm lagoon with a protective reef, sets it apart.

Affordability, accessibility, cultural heritage, sustainable tourism make Lakshadweep an attractive option for tourists compared to the Maldives.

However, there are challenges such as connectivity, accommodation, market development, and internet services that hinder tourism. The 2020 Lakshadweep development plan had aimed to address these issues, emphasising skills and professionalism.

Currently, in order to enhance connectivity, various companies are undertaking airport projects, with the Modi government and the Airplane Authority of India (AAI), planning a new airfield at Minicoy island. The Tata Group's Indian Hotels Company also intends to launch Taj-branded resorts on Suheli and Kadmat islands.

The smart city mission in India includes Lakshadweep in its development plans. The administration has introduced a digital e-permit system for seamless travel. These initiatives signal a concerted effort to overcome challenges and elevate Lakshadweep's status as a premier tourist destination.

Along with the development in tourism, sustainability and environmental protection also holds a major role, hence, tourism methods like enclave tourism, segregate tourism and controlled tourism have been introduced. Preservation of its unique cultural heritage and investment in ecotourism could differentiate Lakshadweep from Maldives.

TRADE AND ECONOMY 

Lakshadweep, traditionally reliant on fishing, agriculture, and coconut cultivation, is experiencing a transformative shift in its economic landscape. Following the #Lakshadweepchalo movement, travel apps report a decline in holiday packages to Maldives, resulting in a notable drop in premium five-star packages from over Rs 2.5 lakh to below Rs 2 lakh. This shift presents an opportunity for Lakshadweep to emerge as a viable alternative for trade and tourism.

The coir industry in Lakshadweep offers substantial prospects for businesses, with 22 investment projects totaling 19.4 billion.

An upcoming coir cluster in Androt Island further strengthens the coir sector's potential. Additionally, the island's rich fishing resources contribute significantly to the economy, with an annual fish production of over 21,016 tonnes, representing 21% of the total fishable potential.

The handicraft sector adds to Lakshadweep's appeal, featuring a training-cum-production centre that provides equipment at a 50% subsidy to promote handicraft units. With these diverse economic avenues and the, Lakshadweep has the potential to position itself as a trade and tourism hub, offering a unique blend of natural resources and investment opportunities.

CULTURE

Maldives culture has been shaped by many different influences. Lakshadweep has Muslim influence and has a primarily matrilineal society. The UN has reported that fundamentalism is on the rise in Maldives and women's rights have increasingly been infringed upon. A promotion of Lakshadweep's female centric culture by Indian social media could be a potential way of gaining greater cultural recognition. 

Firstly, it paints the islands as a progressive part of the world and adds to the Indian image with its status as being more than a tourist destination. Secondly it promotes an alternative model of socio-economic development and organisation where women are central. Building soft power for Lakshadweep therefore offers the Indian Nation benefits.

STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE

Lakshadweep and the Maldives are both island chains located off the coast of India. While Maldives is a small nation of clustered islands,its strategic value potentially lies in its proximity to a considerably larger nation like India and also Sri Lanka,and its location in the Indian Ocean that could be used for refuelling. 

Lakshadweep also has similar features and importance, providing India with a foothold in the Indian Ocean off its coast. Increased building of refuelling and storage facilities in the island chain by India can be an effective way of increasing its strategic importance and offering an alternative to Chinese led development in the Indian Ocean.

Strategic moves are critical to counter the building of regional hegemony by great powers such as the United States and China and build Indian influence in the Indian Ocean Region in the long term.

In conclusion, the Lakshadweep islands have a major chance to be a replacement for the Maldives and this is important in the larger context of the Indian Ocean Region as they can be critical in promoting Indian culture, and power projection in the area which has the potential to deter the pursuit of nations such as the Maldives by powers like China and offer a great opportunity for the Indian strategic community and the general population for its promotion as a sample of Indian heritage.

Indian foreign policy will benefit from a multi pronged approach that focuses on different aspects like defence, culture and economics that all offer distinct strategic advantages in India's quest for regional and global power growth, adding to our increased sovereign decision-making as an eventual major power.

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BY CHIRAYU BANGA & AASTHA SHUKLA

TEAM GEOSTRATA

info@thegeostrata.com