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14 April 2004
The Maldives parliament passed an amendment
to Clause 35 of the Tourism Act 1999 of
the Maldives to raise the present tourist
tax from U$6 to US$8 per day.
The Clause 35 of the Act reads “The
sum of US$6, or its equivalent in a foreign
currency acceptable to the Maldives Monetary
Authority, shall be collected as tax payable
to the Government of the Maldives from each
tourist per day of stay at a tourist resort,
tourist hotel, tourist guesthouse or tourist
vessel. The management of the establishment
where the tourist was provided accommodation
shall be liable for collection of that tax
from tourists and payment of the due amount
to the Government. The amount of tax due
in respect of the preceding month shall
be paid by the 15th day of the current month.”
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Thirty
two percent of government revenue
comes from Tourism |
A majority of forty-two members out of
the 44 present at the meeting voted to adopt
the amendment. This amendment will come
into force in November this year.
Tourism tax popularly known as ‘bed
tax’ has to be collected by the management
of resorts, hotels, guest houses, and cruise
boats. It is then paid to the Department
of Inland Revenue by the management of the
tourist facility on behalf of the visitor.
The amount has to be paid in American dollars
or an equivalent amount has to be paid in
a currency accepted by the Maldives central
bank, the Maldives Monetary Authority.
The tourist accommodating facilities in
the Maldives do not collect this tax separately
from tourists but they include this charge
in the holiday package.
MaldiveIsle.com News
Team
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