No impact on tourist arrivals from Israel passport ban, Thoriq says
He added that the government is in contact with foreign diplomatic missions in the Maldives and overseas.
Tourism Minister Thoriq Ibrahim has said that the government’s decision to ban entry into the Maldives for holders of Israeli passports has not resulted in a significant impact on the tourism sector.
The ban, which came into effect on 15 April, was implemented as part of the Maldives government’s stance against Israel’s military actions in Palestine. A statement published on the President’s Office website noted that the purpose of the ban is to respond to what the government described as inhumane acts and genocide against Palestinians. It also stated that the Maldives is actively working to support the Palestinian cause in various international forums.
Responding to a question during a press conference held at the President’s Office on Wednesday, Thoriq said there had been no large-scale reaction or campaign opposing the decision. He noted that the government is continuously monitoring the daily arrival figures of tourists to detect any changes.
“There is no significant impact or decrease in tourist arrivals so far. We have not observed any widespread call to boycott the Maldives,” he said.
While some media outlets have reported concerns over the potential economic effects of the passport ban, Thoriq stated that other reports had shown support for the decision.
He added that the government is in contact with foreign diplomatic missions in the Maldives and overseas, including the European Union, to explain the reasons behind the decision.
According to the minister, there has been no indication of Israeli passport holders currently staying in the Maldives.
