An amendment to the Tourism Act has been proposed to increase the green tax charged to tourists.
The amendment was introduced by Macchangolhi South MP Miusthafa Hussain on behalf of the government.
Currently, tourists staying in hotels and tourist guesthouses in residential islands with 50 rooms or fewer are charged US$3 as green tax per day. The amendment proposes to double the amount to US$6.
For tourists staying at resorts, integrated tourist resorts, resort hotels, hotels, tourist guesthouses with 50 rooms or more and tourist vessels, the green tax is currently US$6 per day. The amendment proposes to increase this amount to US$12.
According to the amendment, if passed, the new green tax will come into force in January 2025.