Maldives prohibits Israeli tourists, showing strong support for Palestine.
The action shows that the government is taking a strong position against the ongoing violence and acts of genocide that Israel is carrying out against the Palestinian people, according to a statement.
On Tuesday, April 15, 2025, the Maldives declared a ban on Israeli tourists visiting the beautiful island nation, showing its strong support for the Palestinian cause.
President Mohamed Muizzu approved the Third Amendment to the Maldives Immigration Act, which was passed by the parliament, known as the People’s Majlis, on the same day.
This decision demonstrates the government's firm position against the ongoing violence and acts of genocide that Israel is accused of committing against the Palestinian people, according to a statement from the President's office.
The statement emphasized, "The Government of Maldives stands firmly with the Palestinian cause and is dedicated to promoting and protecting the rights of the Palestinian people.
The Maldives will continue to call for accountability for breaches of international law and will speak out against Israel’s actions on various international platforms."
Israel is not one of the top ten countries sending tourists to the Maldives, which heavily depends on tourism for its economy.
As reported by Maldivian Tourism authorities, the popular destination has welcomed around 729,932 tourists this year up to April 14, 2025, with 70% of them visiting resorts on different islands.
China leads the way, making up 11% of tourist arrivals, while India ranks sixth with 5%. The ban on Israeli tourists took effect immediately, as confirmed by a spokesperson from the President’s office to the news agency AFP.
On Tuesday, the Muizzu government officially confirmed its earlier promise to ban visitors with Israeli passports from entering the Maldives.
This decision aligns the Maldives with Bangladesh and Pakistan, which have also prohibited Israeli passport holders from entering their countries.
Recently, Bangladesh reinstated the "except Israel" note on its passports, preventing its citizens from traveling to Israel due to growing public outrage over Israel's ongoing attacks on the Gaza Strip, which have resulted in over 50,000 deaths in the past 18 months.
In Sri Lanka, the presence of Israeli tourists has raised concerns among locals, particularly regarding illegal business activities near popular tourist attractions. Sri Lanka has consistently expressed its strong and unwavering support for the Palestinian cause.