The beautiful island where holidaymakers face a £247 fine for making 1 mistake

Holidaymakers visiting a beautiful tourist destination known for its crystal clear waters and perfect sandy beaches can be fined hundreds of pounds for breaching a little-known rule.

The Maldives, situated in South Asia, is a renowned archipelago that welcomes nearly two million tourists annually. However, what many of those visitors might not be aware of is that the gorgeous destination has very strict rules regarding smoking. It recently became the only country with a generation-wide tobacco ban, having placed a restriction on smoking for young people born on or after January 1, 2007. However, there are other smoking rules that impact locals and visitors, regardless of age.

The import, sale, use, possession or distribution of electronic cigarettes and vapes has been banned in the Maldives as of 2024. That means, regardless of age, visitors cannot bring any vaping devices into the country, even for personal use, reports Euro News.

Those who are caught with or using a vape can face a fine of up to 5,000 Maldivian rufiyaa, equivalent to £247.01.

However, if you arrive with a vape at the border, you will not be penalised or denied entry, the device will be confiscated and a customs officer will provide you with a receipt you must show when leaving the country to enable your items to be returned to you.

The smoking regulations are a part of the Government's goals to "protect public health and promote a tobacco-free generation".

The country's health minister described the recent generation-wide smoking ban as a "historic milestone", adding that the regulation "reflects the government's strong commitment to protecting young people from the harms of tobacco".

While new regulations can typically deter holidaymakers from visiting a destination, Amed Afaal, the vice chair of the Maldives' tobacco control, said that he does not believe the new law will deter people from visiting the luxurious spot.

He said: "People don't come to the Maldives because they're able to smoke. They come for the beaches, they come for the seas, they come for the sum, and they come for the fresh air."

Mr Afaal also highlighted that it had not resulted in any international visitors cancelling their bookings, that the number of tourists has risen over the past year, and they're "projecting more than two million [tourists] in the next year".