In a recent turn of events, Nishant Pitti, the CEO of MakeMyTrip, has responded to criticism from the Kerala wing of the Indian National Congress (INC) regarding the listing of Maldives as a travel destination on the MakeMyTrip app. The issue arose after a temporary glitch caused Maldives to reappear on the platform, leading to accusations questioning the company's patriotism.
Pitti took to Twitter to address the concerns raised by INC Kerala. In his tweet, he clarified that MakeMyTrip had halted all bookings to the Maldives from January 8th following controversial remarks made by a Maldivian minister about India. This decision aligned with a nationalistic stance following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's promotion of Lakshadweep as a travel destination. Despite the company's efforts, a technical glitch caused Maldives listings to briefly reappear between May 16th and 26th, but these were promptly removed once identified.
Pitti's tweet also pointed out that while MakeMyTrip faced scrutiny, other Chinese-owned travel portals continued to promote the Maldives without interruption. He emphasized that MakeMyTrip has operated for the past 16 years without any foreign investments, highlighting the company's dedication to its nationalistic values.
In a strongly worded yet composed response, Pitti reiterated that MakeMyTrip's commitment to serving India remains steadfast. He acknowledged that financial dynamics might change, but the company's dedication to a nationalistic approach is unwavering. His message conveyed a firm stance that MakeMyTrip is here to stay, regardless of the challenges.
The controversy highlights the complexities of balancing business operations with national sentiments in the travel industry. Pitti's response underscores MakeMyTrip's resilience and commitment to its values amidst external criticisms.
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