The Maldives recorded a sharp rise in Green Tax collections in the first 21 weeks of 2025, with revenues surpassing USD 63.3 million, reflecting a robust recovery and continued expansion in the nation's pivotal tourism sector.
Data released by the Ministry of Finance and Planning show that Green Tax receipts from 1 January to 12 June totalled USD 63,320,363.16, representing an 88 percent increase over the USD 33.58 million gathered during the same period last year.
The levy, introduced in October 2016, was established to support environmental protection initiatives across the country. It applies to foreign visitors staying at resorts, hotels, guesthouses, and aboard tourist vessels operating in Maldivian waters.
Its structure varies according to the type of accommodation: resorts, safari vessels and hotels are subject to a charge of USD 12 per person per night, while guesthouses are assessed USD 6. Children under two are exempt. Because revenues are directly linked to both the volume and duration of tourist stays, Green Tax performance offers a barometer of sectoral vitality. Registered entities are required to submit monthly statements and remit payments by the 28th of the following month.
By mid-June, the Maldives had received 1,074,703 tourists in 2025, a 9.1 percent increase over the same period last year, extending the upward trajectory in visitor arrivals, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Environment. The country welcomed two million visitors in 2024. With that milestone as a foundation, the government has set its sights on attracting 2.3 million by the end of this year, signalling its continued commitment to advancing tourism-driven growth.