A new departure tax is now in effect for anyone departing from an airport in Maldives. Visitors and citizens alike will be liable to the new Departure Tax and Airport Development Fee while departing the nation beginning January 1, 2022.

The increased fees will help to offset the expense of Velana International Airport’s ongoing US $800 million infrastructure improvement initiative. Passengers on scheduled flights will pay the fees as part of their ticket price, with airlines responsible for collecting them. The airport operator is responsible for collecting taxes on non-scheduled aircraft such as chartered flights and private planes.

The new tax replaces the $25 Airport Service Fee in the United States. Passengers having diplomatic immunity, passengers in transit, and children under the age of two will be exempt from the additional fees.

The major redevelopment, which is scheduled to be completed in 2022, will comprise a new runway and passenger terminal, a new seaplane terminal, a new luxury traveler (VIP and CIP) service complex, a 45-million-litre fuel farm, and a 120,000-tonne freight facility.

This significant refurbishment will help ensure that the airport can accommodate growing passenger numbers, which are expected to reach 7.3 million by 2030 – significantly above its current capacity.