Ministry of Finance has revealed that the state received USD6.2 million as Green Tax in April.
The Green Fund Report published by the finance ministry shows that the state received USD6.2 million as Green Tax in April, of which USD5.5 million was collected from resorts, USD363,000 from guesthouses, USD149,000 from liveaboards and USD84,000 from hotels. In addition, Kaafu Atoll contributed USD2.2 million in Green Tax collection, Alifu Dhaalu Atoll contributed USD448,000 and Alifu Alifu Atoll contributed USD422,000.
The government spends the revenue from the Green Tax on various projects across the country. These projects include establishing water and sewerage facilities, beach protection, and environmental projects. The report shows the biggest contributions in April were made to the development of the Kaashidhoo Sewerage System with USD305,000 and the development of the Regional Waste Management Facility in Addu City with USD272,000.
The Green Fund was introduced in 2016 with the aim of tackling environmental issues in the Maldives as per the Tourism Act of the Maldives. As such, USD6 is charged as Green Tax per tourist for each day they spend at a resort or a hotel in the Maldives, and USD3 is charged as Green Tax per tourist for each day they stay at a guesthouse.