The government has reported a sharp increase in Green Tax revenue, collecting more than USD 65.5 million during the first 22 weeks of the year, a rise of 93.8 percent compared with the same period in 2024, according to data issued by the Ministry of Finance and Planning.
The figures, published in the ministry's Weekly Fiscal Development report, indicate that Green Tax earnings climbed from USD 33.89 million in the corresponding period last year to USD 65.5 million this year, effectively doubling income generated through the nationwide environmental levy.
The Green Tax, established in October 2016, was introduced to help finance environmental protection efforts across the country. It is imposed on tourists staying in various forms of accommodation, including resorts, hotels, guesthouses and tourist vessels.
Rates are determined by the type of accommodation: guests at resorts, safari vessels and hotels are charged USD 12 per person per night, while those lodging in guesthouses pay USD 6. Children under the age of two are exempt. Registered establishments are required to submit monthly statements and remit payment by the 28th day of the following month.
Growth in green tax receipts has coincided with a notable rise in tourist arrivals. According to the Ministry of Tourism and Environment, 1,108,130 visitors had travelled to the Maldives by mid-year, a 9.1 percent increase over the 1,015,527 recorded during the same period last year. The nation is currently welcoming more than 6,000 tourists each day on average.
In 2024, the Maldives received two million visitors. Building on that momentum, the government has set a target of attracting 2.3 million tourists by the end of the current year and is undertaking a range of initiatives aimed at further expanding the country's tourism sector.