Maldives' main airport has recorded an eight percent increase in revenue generated from the airport service charge.
Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) statistics show that the state had generated MVR537 million in revenue as airport service charge from the Velana International Airport (VIA) last year.
The figure as an eight percent increase from the MVR496 million recorded as service charge revenue the year before.
Foreigners are required to pay USD25 as airport service charge while locals pay USD12.
Airports operator Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has said the amount of passengers and traffic have continued to rise each year.
MACL, on January 2 had revealed that it was the busiest day in the Velana International Airport since it's inception half a century ago in 1966.
The airport operator said the movement of 567 planes were recorded, along with the movement of 188 wheel based vehicles and the movement of 379 seaplanes.
The high amounts of traffic experienced around the new year was contributed to by the 53 private jets belonging to wealthy who had opted to spend their New Year in the Maldives.
The government has started a huge project to improve the airport, which will see USD800 million invested in airport expansion. An upgraded passenger terminal as well as an additional runway will be available after the completion of this project.
