Committees to finalise tourism tax, fee hike review by Monday
The bills include three tourism-related proposals and a bill to amend the Import Export Act to increase taxes and import duties on tobacco products.
A parliamentary subcommittee, comprising of finance committee and economic committee, resolved Sunday to complete their review of four key bills by Monday evening.
The bills include three tourism-related proposals and a bill to amend the Import Export Act to increase taxes and import duties on tobacco products.
The government had introduced these bills to parliament, and they were referred to the subcommittee on Wednesday for further examination. The proposed bills are:
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A bill to levy taxes and fees on passengers departing from Velana International Airport
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A bill to increase the Tourism Goods and Services Tax (TGST)
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A bill to increase the green tax under the Tourism Act
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A bill to increase taxes and import duties on tobacco and tobacco products
The finance and economic committee subcommittee convened Sunday to outline the review schedule and next steps. During the meeting, the following resolutions were made:
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Complete the review of the bills by Monday evening and refer them back to the full parliamentary committee.
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Allow a 24-hour period for public comment, with the deadline set for 2 pm Monday.
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Request written submissions of comments from relevant agencies and associations.
Deputy speaker, Dhiggaru MP Ahmed Nazim emphasised the urgency of the bills’ review, citing the upcoming budget presentation in parliament this week.
Velidhoo MP Mohamed Abbas proposed not to seek public opinion due to the tight timeframe. However, Baarah MP Ibrahim Shujau advocated for public consultation, particularly given the nature of the proposed tax changes. He moved for a deadline of 2 pm Monday for public comments, which the committee approved.
MDP MP Mauroof Zakir introduced a motion to extend the public comment period to five days, but this motion was not passed by the committee. In response, PNC MP Shujau expressed concern that the MDP might be attempting to delay the review process. He reiterated the importance of public input, particularly on tax-related bills, and suggested that the 24-hour period was sufficient given the current discussion on these issues.
