Why in News ?
The beaches in Kerala received an unexpected shot in the arm with the Israeli embassy inviting its citizens to visit beaches in India, including in Kerala, in the wake of the Maldives banning the entry of people holding Israel passports.
Why Maldives banned Israel Tourists ?
The Maldives has banned the entry of visitors with Israeli passports amid growing public anger over its ongoing war in Gaza.
“President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, following a recommendation from the Cabinet, has resolved to impose a ban on Israeli passports,”. However, no official details were provided.
On Sunday, the president’s office further said that the Cabinet decided to amend necessary laws to prevent Israeli passport holders from entering the country and further establish a subcommittee to oversee these efforts.
Muizzu has also announced a national fundraising campaign in support of Palestinians and to conduct a nationwide rally “Maldivians in Solidarity with Palestine”.
Which Countries banned Israel Tourists ?
A page, named ‘World Of Statistics’, shared the list of countries that don’t allow Israeli passport holders on their land. Among the nations mentioned were Algeria, Bangladesh, Brunei, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Yemen.
Today’s News :
The Indian Ocean archi- pelago banned Israelites in solidarity with the be- sieged people of Gaza over the war there.
A post shared by the embassy on ‘X’ states that “since the Maldives is no longer welcoming Israelis, here are some beautiful and amazing Indian beach- es where Israeli tourists are warmly welcomed and treated with utmost hospitality”.
The post also has photos of beaches in Kerala, Goa, Lakshadweep, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, recommending the beach- es for their citizens based on the experience of its diplomats who visited these places.
Kerala once had a sizeable Jewish population and has been receiving a significant number of tourists from Israel every year. For instance, 23,592 Israeli tourists visited the State in 2019, the highest tally in re- cent years.
However, foreign tourist arrivals to Kerala have not picked up significantly after the pandemic, mainly due to the worsening geopolitical situation and wars in various parts of the globe, including in West Asia, and the economic slowdown in many countries.
Kerala had for the first time attended the International Mediterranean Tourism Market in Tel Aviv in 2019.
What is the International Mediterranean Tourism Market ?
IMTM is a meeting point for industry professionals, buyers and suppliers, to find the latest destinations and trends for tourism industry.