President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has ratified the eighth amendment to the “Tourism Act” (Act No. 2/99). The amendment was passed by the Parliament at the 7th sitting of its second session, on 29th June 2016.

Following ratification, the Act has been ‎published in the Government Gazette.‎

The act facilitates formulation of guidelines for leasing of islands, land, or lagoons for tourism development, without the prerequisite of a bidding process.