Minister of Tourism and Environment Thoriq Ibrahim has stated that there are no signs the recent ban on Israeli passport holders will negatively affect the Maldives’ tourism industry.

The statement comes after President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu approved amendments to the Immigration Act on April 15, effectively banning the entry of Israeli passport holders in protest against the ongoing violence in Gaza.

Addressing concerns raised by some media outlets, Minister Thoriq clarified that there are currently no Israeli tourists in the Maldives and no evidence of any active boycott campaigns targeting the country.

“From what we are seeing, there is no noticeable impact on tourist arrivals. We haven’t received reports of any major drop in numbers or international calls to avoid the Maldives,” he said.

While acknowledging that some international reports speculated a negative fallout, Thoriq emphasized that the reaction to the decision has largely been positive. He added that the Ministry is closely monitoring the situation on a daily basis.

The Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to both ethical foreign policy and sustaining the country’s vital tourism sector.