Maldives Collects $84.3 Million in Green Tax During First Seven Months

The Maldives has collected USD 84.31 million in green tax revenue during the first seven months of the year, reflecting a steady increase in tourism-driven environmental funding. According to the latest statistics from the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA), this represents a 5.8 percent rise compared to the USD 77.82 million recorded during the same period last year. This upward trend extended to overall dollar-denominated receipts, which reached USD 88 million between January and July. This figure also marks a 5.8 percent increase over the USD 83 million gathered during the corresponding timeframe in the previous year. Introduced in October 2016, the green tax is a critical funding mechanism designed to support environmental preservation across the archipelago. The levy is applied to all tourists staying at resorts, hotels, and guesthouses, as well as those utilizing safari vessels. Under current regulations, visitors staying at resorts, hotels, and safari vessels are charged a daily rate of USD 12. Guests opting for local guesthouses pay a reduced rate of USD 6 per day, while children under the age of two are exempt from the tax. The government allocates these funds toward essential environmental projects on islands nationwide. These initiatives are central to the country's sustainability strategy, focusing on coastal protection programs to combat erosion and clean environment projects. Additionally, the revenue supports the development of critical infrastructure, including sustainable drinking water systems and modernized sewerage networks, ensuring that the tourism industry contributes directly to the preservation of the natural environment it relies upon.