President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has ratified the 16th Amendment to the Maldives Tourism Act (Act No. 2/99).
The Amendment was passed by the 20th People’s Majlis during the 28th sitting of its third session for the year, held on Wednesday, 3 December 2025.
The primary purpose of this Amendment is to establish a legislative framework for leasing areas for tourist resort development and for the establishment and operation of Tourism Training Resorts, and to introduce the regulatory provisions required to support these developments. The Amendment also provides for the extension of resort construction periods, defines lagoon boundaries for islands leased for tourism, and regulates the issuance of licences for tourism-related travel planning and management services.
A key feature of the Amendment is the formal recognition of Tourism Training Resorts as tourist facilities, with defined procedures for their lease, development, and management. It further stipulates that within inhabited islands or city jurisdictions, only tourist guesthouses or tourist hotels may be developed. Revenue generated for the State from such establishments must be allocated to the respective Island or City Council.
The Amendment also expands the scope for leasing islands, land, and lagoons to State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs). Companies in which the Government holds at least 45 per cent of shares are now eligible to lease land for the development of tourist resorts or integrated tourist resorts.
The Amendment provides for an extension of up to six months to the lease period of an island, land, or lagoon, and outlines the conditions and procedures for granting extensions to complete development works.
Following this Amendment, tourism-related travel planning and management services in the Maldives may only be undertaken by parties holding a valid Tour Operator Licence. Foreign tour operators registered abroad must obtain a Foreign Tour Operator Licence to provide services in the Maldives.
Additionally, the Ministry of Tourism and Environment has been authorised to defer rent payments for properties closed for redevelopment. This includes the authority to postpone rent and any fines accrued up to the date of closure, in accordance with relevant regulations.
To strengthen compliance, the Amendment stipulates that providing tourist services without the required licence may result in a fine of up to MVR 1 million. The specific penalty will depend on the nature of the service and the duration of the violation.
The Amendment has come into effect following its ratification and publication in the Government Gazette.