Does the Maldives smoking ban apply in resorts and resorts?
Resorts function underneath separate tourism rules, which means they’ve a point of flexibility. However, they’re nonetheless sure by nationwide legislation, so employees can not promote or present tobacco to company who fall underneath the restricted era. Hotels on local islands are usually far stricter: smoking is restricted to small out of doors zones, and guests ought to at all times test earlier than doing so.
Is vaping allowed within the Maldives?
No. The import, sale and use of vapes, e-cigarettes and equipment are banned outright throughout the Maldives. Customs officers routinely confiscate such units, and penalties can apply if travellers nonetheless attempt to carry them in.
What are the penalties for breaking the Maldives’ smoking or vaping guidelines?
For now, enforcement is anticipated to give attention to gross sales and imports somewhat than private smoking. Anyone caught promoting tobacco merchandise to an individual born on or after January 1, 2007 faces a high quality of MVR 50,000 ($3,200). The identical applies to companies – together with resort outlets and duty-free retailers – that fail to confirm a purchaser’s age or promote to these within the restricted group. Meanwhile, travellers discovered with vapes, e-cigarettes or equipment can face fines of as much as MVR 5,000 ($320) and have the units confiscated upon arrival at Malé’s Velana International Airport. Smoking outdoors designated areas on native islands might imply a high quality of round MVR 500 ($32).