The Parliament has approved an amendment to the Tourism Act to empower the President to designate uninhabited islands and lagoons under the jurisdiction of island councils for tourism purposes.
The amendment was proposed by the government by Thimarafushi MP Ahmed Riyaz. The amendment was approved as per changes brought to it by the Parliament’s Economic Committee, with 55 members voting in its favour. Only seven members voted against it.
The amendment provides concessions for payment for resort lease period extensions. According to the changes, if a party agrees to complete the payment for the extension within six months from the date the amendment comes into effect, USD 100,000 must be paid for each year of extension as a bulk payment. If the payment is made six months after the amendment comes into effect, USD 200,000 must be paid for each year extended as a bulk payment.
An amendment has been brought to the Tourism Act once again while a similar amendment was already approved in August last year. The opposition has voiced concern over bringing changes to the law so frequently.