The Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) will conduct a nationwide survey to assess the expenditure patterns of Maldivians travelling abroad for tourism, education, medical treatment and other purposes. The initiative is intended to provide the central bank with comprehensive and reliable information for compiling the Maldives’ Balance of Payments statistics.
The “Maldivians Travelling Abroad Survey 2026” will be conducted from 25 to 31 July 2026 at the Arrival Hall of Velana International Airport. MMA teams will be stationed at the airport throughout the survey period to collect information from Maldivian citizens returning from overseas journeys.
The survey will gather details on the purpose of travel, country or destination visited, airfare, accommodation expenses, medical treatment costs, travel arrangements and the total expenditure incurred during the trip. Information on how overseas expenses were financed may also help the authority better understand the foreign currency requirements of Maldivian travellers.
MMA has assured participants that the survey will not collect personally identifiable information, including names, residential addresses or other private details. Responses will be treated confidentially and used exclusively for statistical purposes, allowing travellers to provide information without their identities being recorded.
Balance of Payments statistics provide an important overview of a country’s economic transactions with the rest of the world. In the Maldives, where international travel is closely connected to healthcare, higher education, business, family commitments and leisure, accurate information on overseas spending is essential for measuring the amount of foreign currency used by residents outside the country.
The information collected through the survey is expected to strengthen the quality of national economic statistics and provide policymakers with a clearer understanding of travel-related foreign currency demand. Reliable expenditure data can support future planning, foreign exchange management and the development of financial policies that respond more effectively to the practical requirements of Maldivian travellers.
Maldivians travelling overseas currently have access to USD 500 as a travel allowance at the official exchange rate. Bank of Maldives customers also have access to a monthly foreign transaction limit of up to USD 3,000 for eligible payments related to airline tickets, accommodation and medical services. These facilities are intended to support essential overseas expenses through formal banking channels.
Despite the existing arrangements, members of the public have continued to raise concerns that the available foreign currency facilities may not always be sufficient to cover the full cost of international travel, particularly for extended medical treatment, education and family travel. Some travellers consequently obtain additional foreign currency from the informal market at rates substantially higher than the official banking rate.
The official selling rate for the US dollar remains MVR 15.42, while the informal market rate has remained above MVR 20 during recent months. The difference between the official and informal rates has increased the cost of overseas travel for individuals who are unable to meet their full foreign currency requirements through banks and authorised facilities.
The administration assumed office with commitments to improve the availability of US dollars, strengthen the formal foreign exchange system and reduce reliance on the informal currency market. The forthcoming survey will provide additional data that could assist the authorities in assessing the actual expenditure of Maldivians abroad and determining the level of foreign currency required for tourism, education, healthcare and other travel purposes.
MMA has requested the cooperation of all eligible travellers arriving at Velana International Airport during the survey period. Public participation will be important in ensuring that the results accurately represent overseas spending patterns and contribute to informed economic planning and more responsive foreign exchange policies in the Maldives.
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