President says Maldivian’s surfboard charge will be reduced

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu says he will have the charge imposed by the national airline, Maldivian, on tourists who carry surfboards reduced.

On the Q&A platform ‘Raeesge Javaab’, Ahmed Rasheed, a resident of GDh. Gadhdhoo, said that the surfboard charge levied by Maldivian on tourists was too high.

He said that it costs around USD 800 for tourists to purchase two-way tickets and pay the surfboard charge when traveling to Gadhdhoo – an island popular for surfing.

ރައީސްގެ ޖަވާބު
21 ފެބްރުވަރީ 2024

ގދ. ގައްދޫ، ފެހިވިނަ، އަޙްމަދު ރަޝީދު، ރާޅާއެޅުމަށް ފަތުރުވެރީން ބޭނުންކުރާ ކަނދު، މޯލްޑިވިއަންގެ މަތިންދާބޯޓުތަކުން އުފުލުމަށް ނަގާ ފީ ބޮޑުކަން ފާހަގަކޮށް ދެންނެވި ސުވާލަށް ރައީސުލްޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ ދެއްވި ޖަވާބު pic.twitter.com/2n2bcgUhx4

— Government of Maldives (@governmentmv) February 21, 2024

President Muizzu responded that the concern has been raised by surfers and other tourist industry stakeholders.

“The charge imposed by Maldivian to carry surfboards is very high, isn’t it? I will therefore discuss and solve this, In Sha Allah,” he said.

The southern island of Gadhdhoo is home to some of the best surf points in the Maldives, including the Tiger Stripes surf point, making it a favorite among surfing enthusiasts.