Tour operators reported problems with payment of holidays in the Maldives

The Russian Union of Travel Industry (RCT) appealed to the Ministry of Economic Development and the Russian Embassy in the Maldives with a request to consult with local authorities over the refund of payments for accommodation of Russian tourists. Problems arose in settlements through the largest bank in the country Bank of Maldives. About the situation RBC reported in the press service of the PCT.

The appeals signed by the President of the RST Ilya Umansky were sent on November 6 to the Ministry and Ambassador of Russia in Sri Lanka and the Maldives Republic Levan Dzhagaryan. In October, the Bank of Maldives began warning entrepreneurs about the refund of payments related to Russia. Tour operators faced similar cases on October 18 when paying for bookings in hotels. The money was returned even when the payers were foreign legal entities.

In the PCT assume that the bank refers to operations related to Russia, including payment for accommodation of Russian tourists. The union asked for consultations with the Maldivian side to ensure uninterrupted payments for tourism services. Refunds create additional costs for tour operators and can make it difficult to accommodate travelers.

As explained by the General Director of “ART-TUR” Dmitry Arutyunov, hotels that have not received payment, may require tourists to repay their accommodation or deny them accommodation. In addition, companies bear the cost of bank commissions for retransfers.

In ATOR told RBC that difficulties with payments did arise in a number of tour operators, but most companies, members of the Association, cases were isolated. “In any case, the vacation of tourists in the Maldives goes according to plan, internal issues with payments are resolved without involving tourists in this issue,” the press service of ATOR stressed.

The Maldives has postponed the introduction of a 17 percent tourist tax (TGST) for foreign tour operators, travel agencies and overseas booking platforms until April 1, 2027. Initially, the new rules were supposed to come into force on October 1, 2026.