Business

Green Tax revenue falls by 6%

Revenue generated as Green Tax (GRT) has fallen during the first quarter of 2019.

The statistics on the first three months of the year revealed by Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) shows that while MVR 241.5 million was received as GRT this year, this is a decrease of 6% compared to the same period of the previous year.

This number is also a 3.6% decrease from the projected GRT revenue for the first quarter.

MIRA said the decrease is due to failure to successfully recover due funds through Enforcement Policy. Although the number of tourists who visited the country during the period increased by 9.6%, failure to settle payments by the set deadline has reflected in the numbers, resulting in the actual amount received being lower than the projected amount.

Green tax is a tax payable by tourists who stay in tourist resorts, tourist hotels and tourist vessels. The ta was introduced during November 2015. It is payable at the rate of US$6 per day of stay by all tourists. Local guesthouses charge US$3 per head for each day of stay.