Parliament Committee on Economic Affairs has passed to pass the amendment to the Tourism Act and to fix US$ 4 as green tax from October 1st.
The bill, proposed by PPM PG Leader and Parliament Majority Leader Ahmed Nihan Hussain Manik, initially put forward a US$ 6 green tax for guesthouses, applicable from the day the President ratified the bill.
However, this was amended to reflect a certain period of time, following discussions with guesthouse owners and tourism ministry officials in the Committee. And the Committee passed to fix the rate at US$ 4.
Additionally, the Parliament also passed to give a deadline of December 31, 2017 to pay overdue fees and rent from resorts instead of December 31, 2016.
All motions put forward by MDP and JP MPs had failed to gain traction in the Committee today. Kimbidhoo Constituency MP Abdullah Riyaz had put forward an amendment to remove the clause on taking green taxes from guesthouses but the motion was rejected. The opposition also put forward a motion to summon ACC and Auditor General Office officials to put forward their opinions, which was also rejected.
Committee passes to take a green tax of US$ 4
