Membership fees for guesthouses reduced

Visit Maldives Corporation (VMC) has announced a reduction in membership fees for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) operating in the country’s tourism sector. 

Under the new structure, guesthouses with fewer than 25 rooms will pay USD 350, while those with 25 rooms or more will pay USD 750.

Travel agents and safari operators will also pay USD 750. Previously, all such businesses were required to pay USD 1,000, while resorts will continue to pay USD 2,000, unchanged for next year.

The fee reduction is aimed at supporting smaller businesses and encouraging their participation in tourism promotion efforts. Visit Maldives will also offer these businesses discounted access to roadshows and promotional activities, as well as opportunities to contribute content to support marketing campaigns for resorts and guesthouses.

Visit Maldives CEO Ibrahim Shiuree said the importance of SMEs in the development of Maldives’ tourism sector.

“With the measures planned for next year, guesthouses, liveaboards and travel agencies in the atolls will gain wider exposure and play a greater role in maintaining Maldives as a leading destination for tourists,” he said.