Maldives · Asia

Malé

Malé is the capital of the Maldives and one of the most densely populated cities on earth, with more than 130,000 people compressed into roughly one square mile. The broader Maldives archipelago welcomed over 2 million international tourists in 2024, a number growing year on year, and the government has responded with a series of major tax increases including a doubling of the green tax, a 67% rise in economy-class departure fees, and a Tourism Goods and Services Tax raised to 17%. A land-reclamation project at Hulhumalé is underway specifically to relieve Malé's overcrowding.

M

Malé

Maldives

Saturation snapshot

76
Severely overtouristed

Last updated: 2026-05-30

Movement through central areas is slow — expect to dodge and wait. Lines at major sights routinely exceed 1–2 hours without pre-booking. Iconic views are difficult to photograph without crowds in frame. Local residents have publicly raised concerns about visitor volume.

Crowd Density
85 source
Visitor Impact
75 source
Local Sentiment
65 source
Trajectory
70 source

Restrictions, taxes & fees

Fee Amount When Source Verified
Green Tax (large resorts and guesthouses)
Per tourist per day at resorts, hotels and guesthouses with more than 50 rooms (USD 6 for smaller guesthouses)
 12.00 USD — finance.gov.mv
2026-05-30
Tourism Goods and Services Tax (TGST)
All tourism goods and services including accommodation, food, beverages and activities
 — 17% of services finance.gov.mv
2026-05-30
Airport Departure Tax (Economy Class)
Per departing passenger in economy class (effective 1 December 2024; higher for business and first class)
 50.00 USD — skift.com
2026-05-30