The Maldives' ban on Israeli passport holders has had no discernible impact on tourism, according to Minister of Tourism and Environment Thoriq Ibrahim.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s ratification of the amendment to the Maldives Immigration Act on 15 April, banned the entry of Israeli passports into the Maldives with immediate effect.
Responding to questions during a press conference on Wednesday, Minister Thoriq said the relevant authorities were closely monitoring the daily arrival numbers of tourists into the Maldives to see if there is any drop in arrivals.
"We are monitoring the number of tourists coming to Maldives every day to see if there is any decline. So far we have noticed no major impact on tourism or tourists coming to the Maldives,” he explained.
In contrast, the Minister pointed out that the decision by the Maldives government had captured global media attention and has largely been met with praise for the bold decision by a small nation.
"At the moment we have not yet heard of any mass campaigns on boycotting the Maldives. However, some media reports are saying that this would or could harm Maldives’ tourism. But there are many positive media reports praising this decision too,” Minister Thoriq said.
The Minister assured that the government would continue to monitor developments closely and the government is briefing its international partners through the diplomatic missions abroad on the reasons behind this drastic measure.
The amendment introduces a new provision to the Immigration Act, expressly prohibiting the entry of individuals holding Israeli passports into the territory of the Republic of Maldives. The ratification reflects the government’s firm stance in response to the continuing atrocities and ongoing acts of genocide committed by Israel against the Palestinian people.
The President has consistently championed the rights of the Palestinian people in the international arena. He has strongly condemned Israel's inhuman actions and spoken out in favor of the Palestinian people in all international forums he has participated in so far. The Maldives is also participating in ongoing legal cases filed against Israel in international courts.