# Maldives’ largest bank stops processing payments for Russian tourists, prompting hotels to turn them away

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/maldives-largest-bank-stops-processing-payments-for-russian-tourists-prompting-hotels-to-turn-them-away/
- Published: 2026-11-09T15:42:27+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-09T17:09:19+00:00
- Original publisher: Meduza
- Original article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/11/09/maldives-largest-bank-stops-processing-payments-for-russian-tourists-prompting-hotels-to-turn-them-away
- Topics: Europe, World

## Key points

- Maldives’ biggest bank has blocked Russia-linked transfers.
- About $2 million in payments was held up by 6 November.
- Some tourists had to pay hotels twice to get rooms.

## Summary

The Bank of Maldives has stopped processing payments linked to Russia, leaving some Russian tourists’ hotel payments unsettled and prompting hotels to ask guests to pay again or refuse accommodation. The disruption has led Russia’s tourism industry and government to seek talks with Maldivian officials.

The Russian Union of Tourism Industry said the bank had been returning payments since late October, and market participants estimated that about $2 million was held up by 6 November. Hotels ultimately provided rooms to affected tourists after they paid a second time. The bank said Russia is on its list of countries with restricted access for transfers, while the Maldives is among Russian tour operators’ top 10 destinations; an average booked tour there cost 585,600 roubles in November, compared with 246,000 roubles for Egypt.

---
Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.