MALE: The Maldives, a renowned luxury tourist destination in the Indian Ocean, will ban Israelis from entering the country, the office of President Mohamed Muizzu announced on Sunday. This move comes as part of a national demonstration of solidarity with Palestine.
President Muizzu’s office released a statement declaring his decision to “impose a ban on Israeli passports,” though specific details regarding the implementation timeline of the new law were not provided. Additionally, the president announced the launch of a national fundraising campaign, “Maldivians in Solidarity with Palestine,” to support the Palestinian cause.
The Maldives, an Islamic republic comprising over 1,000 strategically located coral islets, is celebrated for its pristine, secluded beaches and clear turquoise lagoons. This popular tourist haven had previously lifted a ban on Israeli tourists in the early 1990s and sought to restore diplomatic relations in 2010. However, these efforts were halted following the ousting of President Mohamed Nasheed in February 2012.
The decision to reimpose the ban on Israeli tourists follows significant pressure from opposition parties and government allies in the Maldives, urging President Muizzu to take a stand in protest against recent attacks on Gaza. Official statistics indicate a sharp decline in Israeli visitors, with only 528 Israelis traveling to the Maldives in the first four months of this year, marking an 88 percent drop compared to the same period last year.
In response to the ban, a spokesman for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs advised Israeli citizens to avoid traveling to the Maldives. The move has sparked discussions regarding the implications for the tourism-dependent economy of the Maldives and its diplomatic relations in the region.
As the Maldives takes this significant step, the global community watches closely, reflecting on the intersection of tourism, diplomacy, and international solidarity.