● 177 resorts in operation ● 833 guesthouses ● 923,984 visitor arrivals in 2026 ● Resorts host 70.4% of all visitors ● Highest service charge: Velaa — USD 3,660 / staff ● Service charge is 10% by law, distributed monthly
mvhotelswatch.com
MV Hotels WatchMaldives Tourism · Transparency
Home / News
Newsroom

What’s moving the sector

Policy, labour, arrivals, openings, investment, appointments, awards, and marketing — summarised plainly, with sources linked.

Featured · Economy
10 September 2026

MATI meeting heats up over the issue of exchanging 40% of dollar revenue

A meeting of the tourism industry association, MATI, has heated up over the amendment to the law requiring resorts to exchange 40% of their dollar earnings.

Read the story →
Economy₹
26 August 2026

Beyond the Horizon: Why Maldivians Deserve Better Jobs and Stronger Wages

Despite generating wealth comparable to major global economies, local minimum wages ($292–$518 per month) fall drastically short of basic living costs (estimated around $793). Driven by a high reliance on imports, this wage gap financially strains a highly skilled and essential workforce. To build a sustainable future, the article argues for recalibrating the minimum wage to reflect actual living expenses, expanding career paths beyond entry-level hospitality, and empowering local enterprises to ensure the nation's economic success directly benefits everyday Maldivians.

Workers☺
25 August 2026

TEAM Warns: The 40% Mandate is a Crisis for Tourism Workers

The Tourism Employees Association of Maldives (TEAM) opposes the government’s mandate requiring resorts to exchange 40% of foreign currency revenue. This unfairly burdens the workers generating the nation's dollars. Without guaranteed access to dollars at the 15.42 MVR official rate, a devastating black market will emerge. Instead of punishing employees, the government must cut wasteful spending and halt vanity projects. TEAM urges workers to unionize and fight this injustice.

Investment↗
7 August 2026

Bids Opened for Resort Development in 15 Islands and Lagoons, Including Halal Tourism

The Maldives government has opened bids for resort development across 15 islands and lagoons on 50-year leases, including three locations exclusively dedicated to Halal tourism. Developers can also bid on 10 expansive lagoons in the northern atolls or premium individual islands like Sh. Nalandhoo and N. Farumuli. To incentivize investment, the government is offering import duty concessions of up to 20% and a 36-month construction window, with final proposals due this November.

Outlook◔
6 August 2026

The 2026 Shift: How Guesthouses Are Anchoring the Maldives Tourism Economy

During the travel disruptions of early 2026, the Maldives experienced a structural market shift as guesthouse bednights surged by 18% while luxury resorts faced a 12% decline. This divergence highlights how local island tourism has become a resilient economic anchor, diversifying the traveler demographic by attracting budget explorers and digital nomads with accessible, authentic stays. By providing a steady baseline of arrivals, guesthouses are helping to smooth out traditional shoulder-season dips and create a true year-round market. Recognizing this vital trend, the Visit Maldives Corporation (VMC) is actively supporting the shift by lowering trade barriers and providing digital marketing aid for local SMEs. As the nation's overall bed capacity expands past 64,700, fully integrating community tourism is proving essential to the long-term stability and growth of the broader hospitality sector.

Service Charge$
29 July 2026

Maldives Resort Service Charge Trends - June 2026

June 2026 service charge payouts showed significant performance gaps across the Maldives. Top luxury resorts reached payouts of up to $932 per staff member (led by RIU Atoll), while most properties held steady between $350 and $700, and lower-tier properties felt typical shoulder-season pressure near $100.

Workers☺
21 July 2026

Marriott International in the Maldives Spotlights Talent at the 2026 APEC Sustainable Bartender Championship ‘Rising Stars’

Briane Onyogo of The Ritz-Carlton Maldives won the 2026 APEC Sustainable Bartender Championship ‘Rising Stars’ at Sheraton Maldives on July 21, 2026, competing against seven other Marriott bartenders. His winning cocktail, "The Second Harvest," cleverly repurposed pineapple skins, cores, and coffee grounds into a kombucha paired with Chivas Regal 12-Year-Old. Onyogo will now represent the Maldives at the regional finals in Singapore in September 2026.

Arrivals✈
17 June 2026

Arrivals from Australia up 16% since launch of direct flights

The Male’-Melbourne route – marking the first direct air link between Maldives and Australia – was launched on May 17 as part of a partnership between Maldives’ national carrier, Maldivian and top Australian travel agency, Luxury Escapes.

Labour Law§
10 April 2026

What the service-charge law actually requires

A 10% charge, distributed monthly, with admin deductions capped at 1% — and fines up to MVR 500,000 for properties that fail to distribute.

Source: Labour Relations Authority