Parliament Approves Guesthouse Green Tax

Parliament on Wednesday passed a Bill on Amendment to the Tourism Act which allowed the Government to levy Green Tax on tourists staying at guesthouses. The amendment proposed by Majority Leader of Parliament - Villimale’ MP Ahmed Nihan Hussein Manik, was passed with 45 votes in favour and 19 against. 

As per the current legislation, the Green Tax is payable by tourists who stay at tourist resorts, hotels and tourist vessels. It came into effect on November 1, 2015. It however did not include guesthouses. The Green Tax is payable at the rate of US$6 per tourist per day.