The government has proposed an amendment to the Tourism Act to create a new regulation on promoting tourist establishments.

The bill was proposed by Thimarafushi MP Ahmed Riyaz. The bill mainly mentions that resorts under development can be seized without any compensation if they are not opened for the scheduled date.

But a section added to Article 45 of the bill states that government permission must be sought to advertise tourist establishments.

“The advertising of tourist service establishments and the publication of information about them shall be in accordance with the regulations made by the Ministry of Tourism under this Act,” the bill states.

Hulhumale' South MP Ahmed Shamheed from the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) expressed concern about the new regulations.

"This means that from now on, resorts will have to advertise as the government wants. Their name boards have to be how the government wants," he said.

Shamheed said this is an additional risk to the resorts as they will have to pay more fees and face major inconveniences to comply with the regulations.