Parliament of the Maldives has passed the amendment to increase the Green Tax amount taken from tourists staying at large guesthouses. The amendment bill to the Tourism Act was passed with 50 parliamentarians voting in favour.
The amendment bill proposes to impose a Green Tax of USD3 for each day a tourist stays at a guesthouse or hotel in an inhabited island that has less than 50 beds and to impose a Green Tax of USD6 for each day a tourist stays at a guesthouse or hotel that has more than 50 beds. Currently, a Green Tax of USD3 is charged as Green Tax per tourist for each day they stay at any guesthouse.
The amendment bill also proposes to stop imposing a registration fee for guesthouses, hotels, and dive centres. Currently, a USD650 registration fee is imposed on hotels while a USD300 registration fee is imposed on guesthouses and diving centres.
Furthermore, the amendment bill paves the way for local councils to lease land according to market value and give local councils the authority to transfer land rights in their jurisdiction.