a day ago
Another holiday hotspot slaps cruise passengers with tourists tax – with fee to QUADRUPLE in next few years
A leading North American destination has become the latest hotspot to slap cruise passengers with a hefty tourist tax.
Mexico, a stop on many Caribbean itineraries, will now charge cruise tourists a $5/£3.67 fee per passenger.
That fee is set to soar to $21/£15.42 per passenger over the next three years and it has been introduced following criticism of cruise lines from Mexican officials.
They've accused the cruise lines of failing to contribute enough to local communities in the ports they visit.
Royal Caribbean and other major cruise lines have reportedly fought against the introduction of the tax, arguing that passengers already spend money in each destination.
The tax will be paid in addition to the port fees that cruise lines already pay in Mexico.
Officials argue that many airlines already charge a tourist tax within the price of a plane ticket to Mexico and they want cruise passengers to pay to.
Cruising is booming in Mexico and according to the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association, around 3,000 cruise ships are scheduled to visit this year.
The ships are expected to carry 10 million passengers between them with Cozumel, an island, the country's biggest cruise destination.
The island is popular for scuba diving and features on many cruise lines' Western Caribbean itineraries.
Local business owners are reportedly worried about the impact the tourist tax could have on the economy.
Carmen Joaquin, the owner of a duty-free shop in Cozumel, told the New York Post: 'We, as business owners, were very concerned, because Cozumel lives on cruise tourism'.
Business owners have also expressed concerns that a new private island designed by Royal Caribbean could impact their companies.
The cruise giant is developing a huge site named Perfect Day Mexico in Costa Maya in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. It's scheduled to open in 2027.
The cruise line has said the exclusive island destination is set to be 'bigger and bolder than anything we have done to date'.
Mexico is one of many destinations where cruise tourists are set to be stung with a tax.
Tourists visiting Santorini and Mykonos will now be required to pay €20/£17.14 to visit the popular islands.
The new tax will be charged during the peak holiday season, which runs until September 30.
Norway has announced that local governments will be able to charge a three per cent levy on overnight stays and cruise ship visitors.
The tax is due to launch in the summer of 2026 and has been designed in response to overtourism in the Nordic country.
Cecilie Myrseth, Norway's trade and industry minister, told Norwegian broadcaster NRK: 'It is not the case that we have year-round tourism throughout the country, but in some places, there are parts of the year that are particularly demanding, and the expenses that the residents have to pay for are particularly high.'
