Locals complain of being charged tourism GST

To celebrate her son’s eighth birthday, Aishath Niyasha* decided to take him and his friends to the swimming pool at Hulhule Island Hotel.

On arrival she was asked to provide a copy of her ID and told that it was a new rule of the hotel. As the kids splashed around in the pool, Niyasha ordered some juice and asked the waiter to bring her the bill for the usage of the pool as well as for the drinks.

Surprised to see Goods and Services Tax (GST) included in both bills, Niyasha told the cashier that since she was a Maldivian she should be exempt from it. His reply albeit in a joking manner was “talk to the esteemed parliamentary members, they are making us do this.”

Scenes like this are played all over the country as confusion has risen between local customers and service providers since the implementation of Tourism GST of 3.5 percent at the start of this year.