President Ratifies 16th Amendment to Maldives Tourism Act
Naifaru, Lhaviyani Atoll | Photo: MV+
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has ratified the 16th Amendment to the Maldives Tourism Act , following its passage by the 20th People’s Majlis during the 28th sitting of its third session on 3 December 2025.
The Amendment has come into effect upon publication in the Government Gazette.
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The legislation establishes a legal framework for leasing areas for tourist resort development and for the establishment and operation of Tourism Training Resorts, while introducing regulatory provisions to support these initiatives. It also allows for extensions of resort construction periods, defines lagoon boundaries for leased islands, and regulates licences for tourism-related travel planning and management services.
A key feature is the formal recognition of Tourism Training Resorts as tourist facilities, with defined procedures for their lease, development, and management. The Amendment restricts new developments within inhabited islands or city jurisdictions to tourist guesthouses or hotels, with revenue generated allocated to the relevant Island or City Council.
The Amendment expands leasing eligibility to State-Owned Enterprises and companies with at least 45 per cent government ownership for the development of tourist resorts or integrated resorts. Lease periods may be extended by up to six months, with conditions and procedures outlined to complete development works.
Under the Amendment, tourism-related travel planning and management services may only be provided by licensed operators. Foreign tour operators registered abroad must obtain a Foreign Tour Operator Licence to operate in the Maldives. The Ministry of Tourism and Environment is authorised to defer rent payments and fines for properties closed for redevelopment in accordance with regulations.
To strengthen compliance, providing tourist services without the required licence may result in fines of up to MVR 1 million, depending on the nature and duration of the violation.
