Committee passes Anti-Tourism Boycott Bill

People’s Majlis Economic Affairs Committee on Sunday passed the bill designed to prohibit urging tourism industry to be boycotted and travel restrictions placed on the country.

The bill passed with the approval of majority of members present at the committee meeting.

The bill, put forward by government party – Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) parliamentary group deputy leader, Vilufushi MP Riyaz Rasheed, defines calling out or supporting or participating in boycotting Maldivian tourism industry either while in the country or outside and placing sanctions on the country as calling out for the country to be boycotted or punished with sanctions.

The bill states that the injured party in any such action can press civil lawsuits against the perpetrator.

The bill also states that based on the extent of his/her involvement, perpetrators can be meted out jail or house arrest sentences starting from 2 years to as much as 10 years, and that perpetrators can also be fined between MVR 500,000 to MVR 5 million based on the extent of their involvement.

The bill, if passed by Majlis, will also provide the government prerogative to cancel business permits, cancel any honors provided by state, and cancel any state benefits provided to someone who is proved guilty of the offense.