Maldives Airport Taxes and Fees Surge 21% to USD 116 Million

Revenue from airport development fees and departure taxes rose by 21.1% during the first five months of the year, according to the latest statistics from the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA). Combined, these two levies generated USD 116.73 million in the initial five-month period, a significant increase from the USD 97.28 million collected during the same timeframe last year. The growth reflects a steady rise in international passenger traffic departing from Maldivian airports. The departure tax contributed USD 60.18 million to the total, marking a 20.6% increase over the USD 49.87 million recorded a year prior. Similarly, the airport development fee yielded USD 61.09 million, representing a 21.6% jump from the USD 50.19 million collected during the equivalent period of 2025. Introduced on January 1, 2022, the departure tax is applied to most outbound travelers. However, the government maintains specific exemptions for those with diplomatic immunity, transit passengers, and children under the age of two. The airport development fee has been in place since May 1, 2017, and is charged to every passenger departing internationally from Velana International Airport, the Maldives' primary gateway. Exemptions for this fee are more limited, applying only to individuals with diplomatic immunity and those categorized strictly as direct transit passengers. These financial gains provide the state with critical resources for infrastructure maintenance and expansion, ensuring the Maldives can sustain its tourism-driven economy as visitor numbers continue to grow.