Government officials met tourism industry leaders on 6 October to discuss proposed changes to how foreign tour operators and travel agents selling Maldivian products are taxed.
The government team included Finance Minister Hassan Zareer, Tourism Minister Mohamed Ameen, Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed, Attorney General Ahmed Usham and Commissioner General of Taxation Fathimath Ameezaa. Industry figures included Hussain Afeef of Crown Company, Ahmed Siyam of Sun Siyam Group, Siyad Qasim of Villa Group and representatives of the Guesthouse Association of Maldives and the travel agents' association, MATATO.
The Tourism Ministry said the meeting agreed on key objectives drawn from industry proposals, though some attendees said details of the changes were not shared.
Amendments passed last month extend TGST to offshore booking platforms and to foreign operators who facilitate bookings, a measure the government estimates will raise an extra MVR 1.6 billion a year. Businesses objected, saying they already pay Maldivian taxes and that the rollout was rushed. Some European tour operators suspended Maldives bookings in protest.
