The Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) has reported that the state collected more than USD 246 million in Airport Development Fee (ADF) and departure tax revenue in 2025, reflecting continued growth in tourist arrivals to the Maldives.
According to the latest figures released by MIRA, USD 122.76 million was generated from ADF collections last year, while departure tax contributed USD 124.08 million to state revenue. Both revenue streams recorded an increase of 5.8 percent compared to 2024, when ADF collections stood at USD 75.19 million and departure tax revenue reached USD 78.6 million.
Departure tax is levied on passengers departing from airports across the Maldives and has been in effect since 1 January 2022. The Airport Development Fee, meanwhile, is charged on passengers travelling abroad from Velana International Airport, the country’s main international gateway.
Officials attribute the rise in airport-related tax revenue largely to the strong performance of the tourism sector. The Maldives welcomed a record 2.2 million tourists in 2025, driving higher passenger traffic through international airports and, in turn, boosting collections from departure-related fees.
MIRA noted that airport taxes and fees remain an important source of government revenue, closely linked to tourism growth, and are expected to continue playing a key role in public finances as visitor numbers remain strong.
