The Tourism Ministry has amended rules to ensure that only 100-percent Maldivian companies can act as agents for foreign tourist vessels.
The amendment was gazetted yesterday with a new part added to Section 3 of the rules.
According to Section 3 (c), only companies with Maldivians as shareholders can act as agents of a tourist vessel coming to Maldives.
If such a company includes another partnership or sole proprietorship as a partner, the partnership or sole proprietorship must also be Maldivians.
A second amendment ensures that tourists arriving on a cruise ship or yacht will not be allowed to go on excursions with tourists staying in resorts or guesthouses.
According to Section 4 (d), only tour guides licensed under the rules can participate in the excursions of the crew and passengers of the foreign vessel.
The ministry also gazetted some amendments to the rules on taking feen when issuing passenger licenses to foreign tourist vessels.
The rule previously charged a passenger license fee of USD 700 per day for vessels between 75 meters and 100 meters in length.
With the change, USD 650 will be charged as license fees for vessels longer than 75 meters and shorter than 100 metres, while a separate category for vessels longer than 100 meters and non-cruise liners was introduced with a charge of USD 750.
