The government has received MVR 223.3 million from Airport Development Fee (ADF) and departure tax.
According to the weekly figures released by the Finance Ministry, MVR 113.5 million was collected as ADF and MVR 109.8 million as departure tax as of February 16. This is an increase over the same period last year. During the same period last year, the government received MVR 58.5 million as ADF and MVR 58 million as departure tax.
The government is expected to receive MVR 870.6 million in ADF and MVR 870.6 million in departure tax this year.
The government began charging a departure tax on January 2022 after abolishing the airport service charge on December 31, 2021. This is a tax levied on passengers departing from an airport in the Maldives. Those with diplomatic immunity, transit passengers, and children under the age of two are exempt from this tax.
ADF is a fee charged from every passenger departing from Velana International Airport, including transit passengers. Only those with diplomatic immunity and transit passengers traveling on a "direct transit" flight are exempt from this fee.
The government amended the law and changed the rate of ADF charges from January 1, 2022, charging US$12 for domestic passengers and US$30 for foreigners. Business class passengers are charged US$60, first-class passengers US$90, and private jet passengers US$120. Departure tax is also charged at the same rate.
