Departure tax to fund tourism infrastructure in rural areas – Prof. Prasad

While discussing the upcoming 2024-2025 National Budget, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad says they are looking at increasing the departure tax from 1st April 2025.

The Deputy Prime Minister says the current recommendation they are considering is to increase it from $140 to $170, however on the basis that the increment will go directly towards funding necessary tourism infrastructure particularly rural areas where they can harness SME’s participation and create new tourism experiences.

Professor Prasad says the budget is not supposed to be a secret document kept away and people should know what is likely to be there and that is why the government is open about budget discussion.

He further says they are also making good progress to get rid of the European Union tax blacklist, this is a situation that should never be reasoned and it has taken too long to address it.

Professor Prasad adds that looking at infrastructure maintenance by partnering with civil society and the private sector as they recognise the government struggles to deliver things and therefore innovative solutions are required

Meanwhile, the budget announcement will be made on the 28th of June.