Data from the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) has shown that more than USD 27.31 million in green tax revenue was collected during the first two months of 2026. This represents a 63.7 percent increase compared with the USD 16.68 million recorded during the same period in 2025.
Green tax was introduced in October 2016 to secure funding for environmental conservation projects across the Maldives. The tax is collected from resorts, hotels, guesthouses and liveaboards operating in the country.
Travellers staying at resorts, safari vessels and hotels are charged a green tax of USD 12 per night, while those staying in guesthouses pay USD 6. Children under two years of age are exempt from the fee.
The government uses the revenue generated from green tax to finance environmental initiatives on several islands. These projects include the development of water and sewerage systems, beach protection measures and environmental clean-up programmes.
The increase in green tax revenue comes as tourist arrivals also rose during the first two months of the year. According to official figures, 474,920 travellers visited the Maldives in January and February 2026, marking a 10.4 percent increase compared with 430,356 arrivals during the same period last year.
Tourist arrivals averaged around 6,000 per day during the past two months. However, the figure has recently fallen to about 4,000 per day due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Authorities note that roughly 30 percent of travellers to the Maldives normally arrive through routes connected to the region, contributing to the recent decline.