Although initial plans did not differentiate between locals and tourists, ensuring that everyone was charged a duty on tobacco products, the Maldives government has now made an exception for tourists.
Atoll Times
In recent years, smoking has seen a dramatic shift in perception and practice, with traditional cigarettes making way for vapes and e-cigarettes. These new forms of nicotine consumption, often marketed as safer alternatives, have become especially popular among younger generations. However, as research reveals the health risks of vaping, countries worldwide are taking action.
The Maldives is no exception, recently introducing stricter controls on vaping and tobacco products. In a significant policy shift, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has announced a ban on vape imports effective November 15, with the sale and use of vapes prohibited from December 15. In addition to this ban, the Maldives also saw an import dirty specific rate on cigarettes and other such products raised from MVR 3 to MVR 8 as well as the ad valorem rate taken from tobacco products raised by 50 percent in a move to discourage the youth from partaking in habits that are suspected to be one of the leading causes of cancer rates in the Maldives.
Although initial plans did not differentiate between locals and tourists, ensuring that everyone was charged a duty on tobacco products, the Maldives government has now made an exception for tourists by reinstating a duty-free allowance for personal tobacco use. While Maldivian locals face higher taxes on cigarettes under the new regulations, tourists visiting the Maldives can now bring in up to 200 cigarettes (one carton) or 250 grams of tobacco without paying import duty. This change reverses an earlier policy implemented at the start of the month, which halted duty-free tobacco allowances for locals and tourists.
The decision to reinstate this duty-free allowance likely took into account the convenience of international visitors, especially considering the Maldives’ popularity as a leisure destination where guests often expect certain accommodations. This adjustment aims to maintain the appeal of the Maldives for tourists while keeping stricter measures in place for locals to address the nation’s rising health concerns surrounding tobacco use.
