Only companies that are 100 percent locally owned can act as agents for foreign tourist vessels, the Ministry of Tourism has determined. The Ministry amended its Regulation Governing Foreign Tourist Vessels Cruising and Harbouring in Maldivian Waters on Wednesday.
According to the amendment, should a company be owned or partly owned by another entity, partnership, or sole proprietorship, all shareholders of the respective owning companies must also be Maldivians.
Foreign tourist vessels entering the Maldives can only do so after a local agent has been appointed.
Additionally, tourists arriving in the Maldives via cruise ship, as well as those arriving via yachts docking in the Maldives, will not be allowed to go on excursions. Only tour guides licensed under the Regulation can conduct excursions for foreign vessels.
The Ministry also made amendments to the Regulation on issuing passenger licenses to foreign tourist vessels.
| Vessels Size (in Meters) | Fees Per Day (in US Dollars) |
| Less than 20 | 100 |
| 21 – 35 | 250 |
| 23 – 45 | 400 |
| 45 – 75 | 500 |
| 76 – 100 | 650 |
| Non-Cruise Liner Longer Than 100 | 750 |
| Cruise Liner Longer Than 100 | 850 |
While a passenger licence fee of US$700 per day had previously been charged for vessels between 76 metres and 100 metres in length, the amount has been reduced to US$650.
Meanwhile, non-cruise liner vessels longer than 100 metres will now be charged US$750 per day, while cruise liners larger than 100 metres will be charged US$850.
An additional US$5 fee will be levied on a per-passenger basis, to be paid by the vessel, for every passenger onboard.
