The government has proposed a bill to amend the Tourism Act to raise the green tax imposed on tourists who stay at guesthouses with more than 50 rooms to USD 6 instead of previously set USD 3.
The bill was submitted to the Parliament on behalf of the government by Central Hithadhoo MP Ahmed Rasheed on Wednesday.
Green tax was initially imposed on tourists who stay at resorts at the rate of USD 6 per night in 2015. It was expanded to guesthouses at the rate of USD 3 per night in 2016. However, the bill proposes to increase the green tax of guesthouses with more than 50 rooms to USD 6, starting next year.
Green tax is collected to the green fund, which is utilized to finance environmental protection and sustainable development projects such as water and sanitation projects, coastal protection projects and waste management projects.
