India pushes for tourism to remote Lakshadweep Islands but climate concerns loom large

India has set its sights on the untapped tourism potential of a secluded and ecologically fragile archipelago, a move that has led to a brewing diplomatic stand-off with the Maldives and left conservationists concerned.

Lakshadweep, a group of 36 islands just one to two metres above sea level, has until now largely been a hidden gem in the Indian Ocean, hosting a unique mosaic of coral islands and atolls renowned for their pristine white sand beaches and beautiful but fragile ecosystems.

The island chain has avoided the hustle and bustle of mass tourism due to its remoteness and lack of connectivity – something that has only benefited its diverse corals, sea turtles and lagoons. One in seven of the 60,000 residents of the islands are fishermen.

That could all be about to change after Indian prime minister Narendra Modi posted pictures promoting holidays to the island, triggering comparisons and then a diplomatic spat with the nearby Maldives. The episode has brought Lakshadweep to the wider attention of the Indian public, with many online posts discussing it as the next hot holiday destination.

From celebrities to social media influencers in India, everyone is vowing to “explore Indian islands”, while #BoycottMaldives trended on Twitter/X for days.

Travel agencies in the quaint island chain are now receiving hundreds of calls every day from people enquiring about everything from flight tickets to resorts and water sports activities.

Online travel portals reported a staggering increase in searches related to the archipelago. Aloke Bajpai, the co-founder and group CEO of Ixigo, wrote on X that there had been a 2,900 per cent increase in searches linked to Lakshadweep. MakeMyTrip, one of India’s leading travel booking sites, said it had witnessed a 3,400 per cent increase on its platform.

Any sudden spike in tourism would pose significant challenges for islands that have so far remained shielded from the large infrastructure boom and pollution that typically accompany such a surge in visitors.

Travel agents are excited about the surge in interest, but also face the issue of managing travellers’ expectations by explaining the challenges involved in reaching the remote islands, finding a place to stay, and satisfying the lengthy list of requirements for the issuance of entry permits – even Indian citizens must first seek permission to travel to Lakshadweep.

“We are receiving hundreds of calls every day,” Mohammad Ali, a government-authorised travel agent based on Bangaram, a tiny island in Lakshadweep, tells The Independent. But he says there aren’t enough resorts to host the influx of tourists.

“There are no five-star resorts here, just a few hotels, cottages and homestays,” he says, estimating that only about 200-300 tourists can stay in the archipelago at one time.

The only way to reach Lakshadweep is to take a flight from India’s southern city of Kochi. Travel agents say they are asking people to plan their travel three to four months ahead because tickets are already selling out.

The permit for entry to the islands requires the preparation of a long list of documents, including police verification of ID. “The permit is being processed faster now, but it usually takes five to six days after all documents have been filed,” says Ali.

While the permit requirements are expected to stay in place, the island is predicted to experience a massive infrastructure boom. There are plans to set up a new airport and at least two luxury resorts –one of them by India’s Tata group, which runs the Taj Hotel chain – with many more seaside and beach villas to be added in the coming years.

Speaking to CNN-News18, the head of Lakshadweep’s administration Praful Patel said he was “not worried” about a sudden rush of tourists to the islands, claiming that there is “sufficient infrastructure to handle them”.

“We will be benefited because of the prime minister’s trip – and not because of the anger of the Maldives,” Patel told the news channel.

He said resorts and villas are being constructed on the islands for tourists, while the permit system will keep visitors away from uninhabited islands or those hosting military facilities, such as Kavaratti island’s naval base.

“This will help with accommodation. We have received direction on the development of tourism, and we are working on that. Some islands are strategically important, so to keep a check on that, the system that is there [of requiring permits] – if it continues, then there shouldn’t be an issue,” he added.

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However, experts worry that this hasty development could harm the islands’ crucial ecosystems.

While Modi’s supporters see Lakshadweep as a counter to the Maldives and want it to become the next sought-after destination, becoming the next Maldives may not be the best thing for the island, says Dr Anjal Prakash, a climate professor at Bharti Institute.

Prakash says the archipelago “should learn from the Maldives’ challenges and craft its sustainable path” instead of trying to become a new version of the popular resort. “Unlike the Maldives, Lakshadweep’s appeal lies in its untouched natural beauty, offering an opportunity to avoid overtourism pitfalls,” he says.

The Maldives, a nation of 26 coral atolls and over 1,000 islands, has long been synonymous with luxury tourism, with its overwater bungalows, crystal-clear waters and vibrant coral reefs. However, despite strict laws, it has been feeling the impact of an increase in tourism, and remains fragile in the face of rising sea levels, a result of the climate crisis.

Being the lowest-lying country in the world, with no immediate neighbours on the mainland, a high population density, and an over-reliance on climate-sensitive sectors such as tourism and fisheries to fuel its economy, has made it highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

According to the predictions of the United Nations Environment Programme (Unep), the predicted sea-level rise of 0.5 to 0.8 metres means that the Maldives will lose most of its land area by the year 2100.

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Increasing plastic pollution from tourism continues to threaten the Maldives’ marine ecosystems, tourism industry and public health.

On the other hand, Lakshadweep, despite its remoteness, has already lost one island to the rising sea level. Experts warn that rampant development could exacerbate these issues further. Coral reefs, which take between decades and centuries to form, are fragile and easily damaged by construction, pollution, and increased human activity.

The islands are also home to numerous species of marine life, including endangered sea turtles and diverse fish populations. Overfishing, pollution from tourism-related activities, and the introduction of invasive species could all pose significant threats to these delicate ecosystems.

Other beaches popular among tourists in India are routinely covered in plastic waste, and cleaning them up remains a challenging task for the authorities and environmentalists.

Goa, which attracts millions of tourists every month, dumps around eight metric tonnes of plastic waste into oceans annually, eight times higher than India’s national average.

It is crucial for Lakshadweep “to strike a balance” between tourism and protecting its ecology, says Prakash.

“Strict monitoring of waste disposal, controlled development, and responsible tourism initiatives can help mitigate some of the potential damages,” he says, adding that such curbs should be employed from the beginning.

But while there are concerns, locals, who have suffered from a lack of connectivity to the rest of India, are also excited about new opportunities opening up for them.

“Our islands are clean right now, you will not find any plastic pollution,” says Jaffer, who has been in the tourism business for a decade and didn’t want to use his full name.

“But if the island gets connected to places like Mumbai and Goa, it will be good for us. There are very few opportunities here,” he says.