VI
EN
In a recent development, the Maldives, a nation renowned for its paradisiacal beauty, has taken a notable step in its immigration policy. The Maldivian government has officially passed a new law prohibiting entry to all visitors holding Israeli passports, a move believed to express deep outrage over the escalating tensions and ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.
According to an official announcement from the Maldivian President's Office, Mohamed Muizzu signed into law the amended immigration legislation, which includes a key provision imposing an entry ban effective April 15 (local time) on Israeli citizens holding Israeli passports. The statement from the President's Office emphasized that the approval of this new law "reflects the Maldivian government's firm stance in responding to the ongoing atrocities and genocidal acts against the Palestinian people in Israel."
The Maldivian president's office approved an amendment to the country's immigration law that bans Israeli passport holders from entering the South Asian nation.
Notably, it has been learned that the decision to ban Israeli citizens from entering the Maldives was made by the country's cabinet nearly a year ago. However, it was only this week that the Maldivian government officially formalized this decision by enacting an amended immigration law.
In response to this development, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, since last June, has advised its citizens, as well as those with dual citizenship, not to travel to the Maldives. At the same time, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs also recommended that Israeli citizens currently in the Maldives consider leaving the island nation for their safety.
The ratification reflects the government's firm stance in responding to the atrocities and genocide that Israel is committing against the Palestinians.
Statistics from the Maldivian government show a significant drop in the number of Israeli tourists visiting the island nation. In the first four months of 2024, only about 528 Israeli citizens visited the Maldives, a much lower number than the 4,644 visitors in the same period of 2023. In total, in 2023, nearly 11,000 Israelis visited the archipelago, accounting for about 0.6% of the total tourist arrivals in the Maldives.
The announcement of the entry ban on Israeli tourists by the Maldives comes amidst a sensitive context, reminiscent of the large protests that took place in Tel Aviv last March, when tens of thousands of Israelis took to the streets calling for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's resignation and demanding the immediate release of hostages.
The ban takes effect immediately. Israel has not yet commented.
The Maldives, a tiny nation located in the southern Indian Ocean, comprises nearly 1,200 coral islands of varying sizes, of which only about 200 are inhabited. Despite being the smallest country in Asia and among the top 10 smallest countries in the world, the Maldives has risen to become a globally renowned "tourist paradise," attracting approximately 1.7 million visitors annually. The robust development of the tourism industry has brought about a miraculous transformation for the Maldives, from a small, isolated, and economically underdeveloped island nation to one of the 26 most attractive beach destinations in the world, with tourism revenue accounting for over 30% of the country's GDP in recent years. The decision to ban entry for Israeli tourists may have certain impacts on the Maldives' tourism industry in the future.
