Maldives (Global Adventures): The Republic of Maldives will charge tourists visiting the islands a $30 tax, starting in January 2010. The new tax will be collected at the port of entry.

The twenty-six atolls of Maldives encompass a territory featuring 1,192 islets, are a diver’s paradise and frequented mainly by European tourists. Only 180 islands are inhabited by a native population of 300,000. Tourism accounts for 28 percent of GDP and more than 60 percent of the Maldives' foreign exchange receipts. Over 90 percent of government tax revenue comes from import duties and tourism-related taxes already in place, not counting the new $30 arrival tax.

Tourism is also the country’s biggest foreign currency earner and the single largest contributor to the nations GDP. 8,380,000 tourists visited the island chain in the Indian Ocean in 2007 and stayed in one of 92 resorts, according to Wikipedia.

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