Maldives proposes amendment to Tourism Act, removing presidential approval for leasing islands

The Maldivian government has introduced a bill to amend the Tourism Act, proposing the removal of the requirement for the President’s Office to approve the leasing of islands, land, and lagoons for tourism development.

The bill, presented by PNC MP Musthafa Hussein on behalf of the government, had its first reading in Parliament on Monday and is scheduled for debate on Tuesday.

Currently, the Tourism Act mandates that the President’s Office must approve any allocations of islands, land, and lagoons for tourism. This stipulation was added through an amendment on July 10, 2016, under Article 5(r)(3).

The new amendment aims to remove this requirement, allowing allocations to proceed without needing the President’s Office’s approval if the bill passes.

Under the existing law, the tourism ministry is required to publish a list of islands, land, and lagoons designated for tourism in consultation with the President’s Office. Any changes to this list currently require presidential approval. The proposed amendment would change this, mandating direct consultation with the president instead.

Additionally, the bill includes an increase in the green tax imposed on tourists, effective next year. The tax for guesthouses with fewer than 50 rooms would double from $3 to $6 per day, while the tax for resorts, city hotels, and larger establishments would rise from $6 to $12 per day.