From December 1, departure taxes for flights departing the Maldives will be $50 for economy class passengers, $120 for business class, $240 for first class, and $480 for each passenger flying on a private jet.
The Maldives, with its white sand beaches and sparkling coral reefs, is one of the world's most expensive vacation destinations.
The Indian Ocean island nation has just raised the “price to leave”: From December 1, exit fees for tourists flying out of the country will increase by up to four times.
Departure taxes are applied at different rates to each passenger, based on the class of air service they book to fly out of the Maldives.
Economy class passengers will pay $50 (up from $30), business class $120 (up from $60), first class $240 (up from $90) and private jet passengers $480 per person (up from $120).
The departure tax applies to all non-Maldivian visitors – regardless of age or passport, and regardless of the length of the flight or the duration of the flight. For example, visitors will pay the same tax for a four-hour flight to Delhi as they would for an 11-hour flight to London.
The Maldives Internal Revenue Authority (MIRA) announced the tax increase in November. According to MIRA, the tax revenue will be used for the maintenance and upkeep of Velana International Airport – the country's main transit hub.
Some travelers may not notice the new fee. These fees are often added to the price of airfare, so travelers don’t have to pay cash when they go through passport control.
Beond, a newly established airline that offers business class services to the Maldives, had earlier posted a note on its website advising customers to buy tickets before November 30 to avoid the new departure tax.
Located off the coast of India, the Maldives has a population of about 525,000 people. They live on more than 1,000 islands and atolls, with the majority of Maldivians concentrated in the capital city of Malé.
Tourism is the Maldives' most profitable industry, but the country has struggled to balance the money coming in from international luxury tourists with the needs of its people, according to CNN.
Geography makes the Maldives attractive to luxury brands: Hotels and resorts can easily have their own private island.
Ritz Carlton, Six Senses and St Regis are international hotel chains present in the Maldives, with many rooms and villas costing thousands of dollars a night.
According to the US State Department, the average income of Maldivians is about 12,000 USD/year.
According to Travel Tomorrow, Maldives has implemented a departure tax since January 2022. The tax applies to all air passengers, except those with diplomatic immunity, transit passengers, and children under 2 years old.
Airlines are responsible for charging fees for scheduled flights, while airport operators charge fees for charter flights and private jets.
According to Travel Tomorrow, tourism contributes nearly 30% of Maldives' gross domestic product (GDP) and generates more than 60% of the country's foreign exchange earnings./.
Source: https://baolangson.vn/du-khach-them-ton-kem-cho-thien-duong-maldives-khi-thue-khoi-hanh-tang-gap-bon-5030194.html
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