Maldives has collected MVR292 million (around USD19 million) as Airport Development Fee (ADF) so far this year, inland revenue statistics have shown.
ADF is collected as a departure tax from passengers departing Velana International Airport (VIA). The fee is collected from foreign passengers at a rate of USD25 and locals at USD12.
According to Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA)’s statistics, 3.7 million was collected in USD while another 57 million was collected in MVR so far this year.
The bill to impose ADF was initially filed to the parliament with a plan to introduce it at the rate of USD25 ADF for both locals and tourists. However, the government-led legislation to impose ADF was passed after a ruling party lawmaker had proposed an amendment to lower the fee for locals.
The ADF was among a raft of new taxes proposed in the 2017 state budget to fund a USD800 million project. The government had stated that the additional revenue will be used to repay development loans taken by the government.
