During a session with the Parliament's Committee on National Security Services, members of the National Hotels and Guesthouse Association (NHGAM) voiced their support for banning the passports of Israeli state leaders. However, they expressed concerns about a blanket ban affecting all Israeli passport holders, warning that such measures could harm the country’s tourism-dependent economy.

The Parliament's Committee on National Security Services is in talks with various stakeholders, including NHGAM, regarding proposed amendments to the Immigration Act that aim to ban the entry of Israeli passport holders into the Maldives.

Speaking to the committee, members of NHGAM noted that the country’s tourism industry relies heavily on international arrivals, including visitors holding Israeli passports. They stated that banning all Israeli passport holders could negatively affect the tourism industry and overall economy, as a significant share of online booking platforms and partnerships are managed by members from the Jewish state.

"We have numerous concerns. Ultimately, we believe that banning all individuals with Israeli passports would have a detrimental effect on our industry, particularly since the majority of online platforms are owned by individuals from the Jewish state," Ahmed Waheed, the vice president of the NHGAM stated.

The representatives have highlighted the potential impact of declining tourism figures. Last year, over 10,000 Israeli tourists visited the Maldives; however, that number has plummeted to just 1,200 this year.

The Parliament's Committee on National Security Services, chaired by Parliament Member Ahmed Saleem, who represents Eydhafushi, has been consulting with various stakeholders, to gather input on the proposed amendments. Saleem stated that the final outcome will reflect the feedback and data collected from all relevant organisations.The committee has set a deadline of February 2025 to complete its review of the bill.