MMA to conduct nationwide survey on Maldivians’ overseas travel expenditure

The central bank, Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA), has decided to conduct a survey on the expenditure of Maldivians who travel abroad.

The ‘Maldivians Travelling Abroad Survey’ targets Maldivians returning from overseas trips to gather essential information required to compile statistics for the country’s balance of payments.

The survey will be conducted from 25 to 31 this month at the arrival hall of Velana International Airport (VIA).

The main information collected will include the purpose of travel, destination, airfare costs, accommodation expenses, and total expenditure during the trip. However, no personal information such as names or addresses will be collected, and all responses will be kept confidential, MMA says.

The Maldives Monetary Authority will conduct the Maldivians Travelling Abroad Survey 2026 at Velana International Airport Arrival Hall from 25–31 July 2026.

The survey collects information on travel destinations, purpose of travel, expense arrangements, airfare expenditure, and… pic.twitter.com/s85SylNtjz

— MMA (@MMA_Maldives) July 16, 2026

MMA staff will be stationed at the arrival hall throughout the survey period. The authority has requested the public to cooperate with the exercise.

Maldivians travelling abroad currently receive USD 500 at the central bank’s dollar rate. In addition, USD 3,000 is allocated for travel, accommodation, and medical expenses through BML. Many people have complained that these limits force them to buy foreign currency at higher prices.

This government came to power with a pledge to resolve dollar stagnation and eliminate the black market. However, the dollar has remained above MVR 20 for several months.