The Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) indicated that the country’s green tax rates are to change significantly starting on 1st January 2025. The revised tariffs will be applicable to all tourist establishments, including resorts, guesthouses, and vessels, in accordance with the 14th amendment to the Maldives Tourism Act.
Green Tax in Maldives will double for the majority of establishments under the impending revisions. The new tariff is $12 USD per guest per night for resorts, integrated tourist resorts, resort hotels, tourist guest houses with more than 50 rooms, and vessels. On inhabited islands, guesthouses with 50 rooms or fewer will charge $6 USD per person per night.
Children under the age of two are also exempt from the tax as of 1st January according to provisions included in the amended regulations. The first 12 hours of the 24-hour block will determine the relevant tax rate for stays that continue into the new year. The new rates will be in effect if the first half of that block falls in January.
For instance, the higher tax rates will be charged to the portion of a guest’s stay that lasts past the new year if they check in on 31st December 2024, and stay into January. In order to ensure clarity for both enterprises and visitors, MIRA has delineated particular circumstances for tax calculation.
It is anticipated that this change will boost government revenue and aid Maldivian environmental projects. Funding initiatives to preserve the nation’s delicate ecosystems, which are essential to its tourism sector, is made possible in large part by the Green Tax.
It is anticipated that this change will greatly boost government revenue, which will be used to fund crucial environmental preservation initiatives throughout the Maldives. For many years, the Green Tax has been an essential instrument for financing programs aimed at preserving the nation’s delicate ecosystems, such as its coral reefs and marine biodiversity. Since these natural resources are essential to drawing travelers, the money made will support the preservation of the pristine landscapes that support the travel and tourism sector.
In order to ensure compliance with the increased regulations, MIRA has advised all relevant businesses to keep accurate records, especially for infants under the age of two. The third amendment to the Green Tax Regulation contains additional administrative standards.
The government’s larger initiatives to encourage environmental sustainability and safeguard the vital resources that underpin tourism include this rise in the Green Tax.
