Maldives Collects $12.96 Million in Green Tax During August

The Maldives collected USD 12.96 million in Green Tax revenue in August, marking a 4.6 percent increase compared to the USD 12.40 million gathered during the same month last year, according to the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA). This growth reflects the steady performance of the nation's tourism sector. The environmental levy was a significant contributor to state finances last month, accounting for 13.3 percent of all government revenue collected in US dollars and 8.3 percent of total overall state revenue. On a cumulative basis, total Green Tax collections through the end of August reached USD 101.17 million. This represents a 5.6 percent rise over the USD 95.33 million recorded during the same eight-month period in the previous year. Established in October 2016, the Green Tax was designed to create a dedicated funding stream for national environmental protection programs. The levy is applied to foreign tourists staying at resorts, hotels, guesthouses, and safari vessels throughout the archipelago. Under current regulations, guests at resorts, hotels, and safari vessels pay a daily levy of USD 12 per person. Visitors staying at local guesthouses are charged a reduced rate of USD 6 per day, while children under the age of two are exempt from the tax. The revenue generated from these collections is reinvested into critical island-level infrastructure and public utility projects. These funds specifically underwrite the development of water supply systems, sewerage infrastructure, coastal protection measures, and various clean environment initiatives across the atolls.