Tourism tax increases expected to boost Maldives’ revenue by MVR 2.8 billion
Maldives government expects to collect an additional MVR 2.8 billion in revenue following the approval of bills aimed at increasing tourism-related taxes, including the Tourism Goods and Services Tax (TGST). Parliament is set to resume Monday, where these changes will be discussed. The proposed changes to the TGST and green tax rates include: TGST: Increase […]
Maldives to increase tourism GST to 17%, double Green Tax
Maldives government is set to propose an amendment on Monday to increase the Tourism Goods and Services Tax (TGST) on tourists to 17% and double the green tax. The amendments to the tax act will be introduced in parliament Monday. The proposed changes include raising the TGST rate from 16% to 17%, effective from June […]
Maldives to increase main airport taxes from December 2024
Maldives government has put forward a proposal to increase the taxes levied on passengers using Velana International Airport (VIA). The proposed amendments to the Airport Departures Tax Act are set to be presented to the parliament in its upcoming session, which begins Monday. The amendments include adjustments to the departure fees for various passenger categories. […]
Maldives tourism businesses asked to register with MMA under new foreign exchange regulations
The Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) has asked businesses in the tourism industry to register under the central bank’s new foreign exchange regulations. Under the new regulations, all businesses registered with the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) as sellers of goods and services within the tourism sector are required to register with the MMA by the […]
New foreign exchange policy risks collapsing Maldives’ tourism industry, economy
Government’s misguided foreign exchange policy will destroy the economy. The government’s newly announced policy to force tourist resorts to convert US$500 per head into local Maldivian Rufiyaa will spell a disaster for the industry and the economy as a whole. There is a belief amongst certain officials and the general public that Maldives resorts are […]
Maldives enforces new foreign exchange rules: $500 per tourist at resorts, $25 at guesthouses
The Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) on Tuesday implemented new regulations requiring resorts and guesthouses to exchange a portion of their foreign currency earnings, effective immediately. Under these rules, tourism service providers must exchange foreign currency income based on tourist arrivals, with separate requirements for resorts and guesthouses. According to the regulations, Category A tourism service […]
Maldives recovers $5 million debt from tourism businesses
The government has recovered $5 million (MVR 77.1 million) from the tourism industry in the past 17 days, Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal said on Saturday. Addressing the nation at the Independence Day celebrations on Friday evening, President Mohamed Muizzu said the state lost $513 million due to the negligence of previous governments. The president said […]
Maldives cuts tourism forecasts amid market, geopolitical changes
The Ministry of Finance in Maldives has revised its tourism growth forecasts downward, reflecting changes in market composition and economic and geopolitical circumstances. According to the Macroeconomic Update, published in late June, in 2023, tourist arrivals reached 1.88 million, surpassing pre-pandemic levels with a 12.1 percent increase compared to 2022. The first three months of […]
Maldives ready for fiscal reforms with SOE restructuring start: Finance minister
The Maldivian government on Monday acknowledged shortcomings in implementing debt-reduction measures and announced a renewed commitment to fiscal reform, starting with a focus on state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Finance Minister Dr Mohamed Shafeeq made the announcement during a discussion on the World Bank report “Scaling Back and Rebuilding Buffers.” Dr Shafeeq admitted that planned reforms from […]
Maldives plans 5 resorts in Kaafu Atoll for tourism diversification
The Visitor Economy Council, established after the new government’s inaugural cabinet meeting, is set to initiate the development of five resorts in the Kaafu atoll, aiming to broaden the spectrum of tourism in the Maldives. Tasked with promoting diverse tourism sectors across the nation, the council’s focus extends beyond traditional tourism, encompassing areas such as […]