Customs has announced the types of tobacco that tourists can import duty-free.

The Tobacco Import Regulations were amended to change the amount of tobacco that can be imported by tourists. Cigarettes can only be imported by tourists over the age of 18.

Tourists can import 200 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco without paying duty. It is 10 packs of cigarettes or a carton of cigarettes. These must be for personal use.

Import duty on cigarettes has been increased from MVR 3 to MVR 8. As a result of this change, the price of cigarettes has skyrocketed.

A pack of cigarettes is currently available between MVR 240 and MVR 250 while a carton is available for MVR 2240. Root, one of the largest importers of cigarettes in the Maldives, used to sell a carton for MVR 995.

The change is expected to generate MVR 180.3 million in revenue this year alone, while the amount is expected to be at MVR 1,058.7 million from import duties on cigarettes alone next year.