The new Seychelles' tourism environmental sustainability levy will be effective from August 1 and will be on a three-tiered basis, Vice President Ahmed Afif said this month, according to Seychelles News Agency.

"The government decided after several discussions with all parties to put the levy at Rs25 (€1.7), Rs75 (€5) or Rs100 (€6.8) which at the moment is the more agreeable way to implement it."

He explained that Rs25 will be for small hotels, Rs75 for medium-sized hotels and Rs100 for large hotels.

Afif said details on which hotels fall within which categories will be provided by the Department of Tourism based on the existing legislation.

"The way it will be collected is when an establishment makes its invoice like they collect Value Added Tax (VAT) today, there will be a line on the invoice for the environment tax and will be based on per person per night," he noted.

Afif added that there will be an exemption for children under 12, staff of airline companies and Seychellois citizens.

On the question of whether this might affect Seychelles' main tourism markets, the Vice President noted that this was not an exorbitant sum.

Afif said the important part was for the trade to advise clients early and that sufficient time has been given for tourism establishments to inform visitors.

"We are not just collecting a tax. The intention is to improve our environment in which the visitors are living and that we are aiming for renewable energy. This will need investment and this levy will be the contribution to help a small country that is doing a lot for the environment today," said Afif.