Regardless of whether you pay cash or redeem miles, airline tickets to and from the Maldives are becoming more expensive.
The new departure tax in the country.
The taxes and fees that passengers pay when departing the country will be changed after President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih signed an amendment into law in July of 2021. There were some questions about the implementation of this, but we now have all of the details.
Passengers departing the Maldives pay $50 in airport taxes and fees through December 31, 2021.
A $25 airport service charge is imposed on departing international travelers.
There is an additional fee for departing internationally from Velana International Airport.
The departure tax will be replaced by a tiered tax on January 1, 2022. Passengers can expect to pay the following total amounts at the airport.
$60 for non-residents to travel internationally in an economy class.
Non-residents can travel in business class for $120.
Non-residents can travel in first class for $180.
The new fees replace the flat $50 amount you would pay for any class of service.
$10 in economy class is a 20% increase.
The increase is 140%.
The first class increase was 260%.
Passengers with diplomatic immunity and children under the age of two years will not be charged departure tax. The residents of the Maldives don't have to pay these increased fees.
You won't have to pay in person, or anything, because airlines are responsible for collecting the new departure tax. This is reflected when booking tickets. I pulled up American AAdvantage award tickets for travel on SriLankan Airlines from Male to Colombo.
You would pay $50 for travel on December 31, 2021.
You would pay $60 in economy or $120 in business class for travel on January 1, 2022.
As of 2022, your vacation in the Maldives will cost you more.
Is the departure tax fair?
I don't like tourist destinations putting up barriers to visiting, whether that is complicated visas or expensive fees. I don't think that is unreasonable for the Maldives.
The country has too many tourists already, and visitors to the islands aren't as price sensitive as in other destinations. If the money from these taxes could help the people of the Maldives in a positive way, then I am all for it.
The government spending money in the best interest of its people is probably a completely different story. I don't think this is unreasonable.
There is no shortage of tourists.
Foreign travelers departing the Maldives will see their aviation taxes go up on January 1, 2022. Travelers will pay $60 in economy, $120 in business class, or $180 in first class instead of the current flat $50 in airport taxes and fees. That increase is anywhere from $10 to $130, or from 20% to 260%.
It is worth being aware of, since this should not affect the overall budget for a trip to the islands.
What do you think about the new departure tax in the Maldives?
The tip of the hat is to Mainly Miles.
