Foreign tourist vessels’ agency restricted to only Maldivians

Regulation has been amended to allow only Maldivians to act as agents for foreign tourist vessels arriving in the Maldives.

The first amendment to the ‘Regulation Governing Foreign Tourist Vessels Cruising and Harboring in Maldivian Waters’ was publicized on Wednesday.

As per the amendment, only companies with Maldivian shareholders will be allowed to act as agents for foreign tourist vessels.

If the shareholders of the company in question is another business entity such as a company, partnership or sole proprietorship, the shareholders of the respective entity must only be Maldivians.

At the same time, foreign tourist vessels can only arrive in the Maldives after appointing a local agent. Moreover, passengers and crew arriving in the Maldives on these vessels can only participate in excursions conducted by licensed tour guides.

Tourism Ministry has also revised the passenger license fee levied from these vessels. The changes are as follows:

• Vessels smaller than 20 meters: USD 100 per day
• Vessels larger than 21 meters but smaller than 35 meters: USD 250 per day
• Vessels larger than 23 meters but smaller than 45 meters: USD 400 per day
• Vessels larger than 45 meters but smaller than 75 meters: USD 500 per day
• Vessels larger than 76 meters but smaller than 100 meters: USD 650 per day
• Vessels other than cruise liners that a larger than 100 meters: USD 750 per day
• Cruise liners that a larger than 100 meters: USD 850 per day

An additional change in the amendment is the shift from the term ‘Charter License’ to ‘Passenger License’ and charging an additional fee. The passenger license will be issued after submission of the required documents and payment of the daily fee payable by each passenger depending on the size of the vessel which has not been altered.

The additional fee will be levied on all passengers aboard the vessel and has to be collected and paid by the vessel. It is charged at a rate of USD 5 per passenger.