By 27 August, the State had received USD 164.72 million in airport taxes and fees, statistics from the Ministry of Finance And Public Enterprises showed, representing an increase compared to the same period last year.
Receipts from the departure tax reached USD 81.06 million, according to the latest 'Weekly Fiscal Development' report published by the finance ministry, reflecting a 7.7 per cent rise from the USD 75.23 million recorded during the corresponding period last year. Implemented on 1 January 2022, the levy applies broadly, though statutory exemptions exclude individuals holding diplomatic immunity, transit passengers, and children under the age of two.
Yields from the airport development fee, levied on passengers departing Velana International Airport since 1 May 2017, climbed to USD 83.01 million by 27 August, up 8.4 per cent from the USD 76.52 million collected over the prior year. Government records place the combined revenue from both the airport development fee and the departure tax at USD 164.72 million, an 8.5 per cent increase over the USD 151.75 million gathered during the same period of the previous year.
Exemptions for the airport development fee apply strictly to persons with diplomatic immunity and travellers classified specifically as direct transit passengers. Revenue generated from the passenger airport development fee is channelled into the Sovereign Development Fund to reinforce long-term national reserves. The fund also receives dividend payments from Maldives Airport Company Limited, the state-owned operator of Velana International Airport, alongside revenues from fee increases on select airport services.