New Delhi: Both Maldives and Lakshadweep are island groups located near India known for their beautiful beaches, fascinating aquatic life and rich culture. Both island groups are popular among tourists, but there are some important differences between them.
Situation
Maldives is located in the Indian Ocean, while Lakshadweep is located in the Arabian Sea. Maldives are located about 600 kilometres southwest of India, while Lakshadweep is located about 300 kilometres off the west coast of India.
size
Maldives is the smallest country in the world, with an area of only 298 square kilometres. Lakshadweep has an area of 32,000 square kilometres, which is about 100 times larger than the Maldives.
climate
Both island groups experience a tropical climate. The average temperature remains between 25 and 30 degrees Celsius throughout the year.
beach
Both island groups have white sand beaches that are some of the most beautiful in the world. The beaches of the Maldives are generally narrower and more rocky than those of Lakshadweep.
aquatic life
Both island groups have rich aquatic life, including colourful fish, coral reefs and other marine creatures. There is more fishing activity in the Maldives than in Lakshadweep, which can hurt aquatic life.
Tourism
Both island groups are popular with tourists. Maldives is a more expensive tourist destination, while Lakshadweep is more affordable. The Maldives have more luxury hotels and resorts, while Lakshadweep has more budget-friendly options.
Maldives advance
Maldives has moved ahead of Lakshadweep in the field of tourism. There are several reasons behind this, including:
- Maldives has better branding globally.
- There are better opportunities for luxury tourism in the Maldives.
- More efforts have been made by the government to promote tourism in Maldives.
target of Lakshadweep
Lakshadweep MP wants ‘high-end tourism, but in smaller quantities’. This means that they want to develop Lakshadweep as a luxury tourism destination while ensuring that tourism does not hurt the environment.
