Latest news with #FCCA
New York Post
30-06-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Mexico to slap cruise passengers with tourist tax starting this week
Cruise passengers docking in Mexico will be forced to cough up a tourist tax starting this week as government officials blast major cruise lines for not paying their fair share into local communities. Industry giant Royal Caribbean, along with other cruise operators, has fought hard against the plan, arguing it drops off passengers who patronize Mexican businesses. Starting Tuesday, cruise passengers will face a $5 fee – which will jump to $21 over the next three years – when their ship stops at a Mexican port. It will be added to the cost of the cruise. 3 Starting Tuesday, cruise passengers will face a $5 fee when their ship stops at a Mexican port. Edgar Photosapiens – That's been negotiated down from a $42 tariff initially proposed by the Mexican government. The new tax stacks on top of port fees that cruise lines have already paid for years, averaging $28.85 per passenger in Cozumel, according to an analysis from the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association. About 3,300 cruise shops are expected to stop in Mexican ports this year, bringing about 10 million passengers with them, according to the FCCA. Many airlines already fold a Mexican tourist tax into the cost of plane tickets. 'The Mexican government's perspective is: 'OK, fine, you bring prosperity. But you need to pay accordingly, like other tourists pay when they come via an airplane,'' Rubén Olmos Rodríguez, who has participated in the tax talks and runs advisory firm Global Nexus, told the Wall Street Journal. Local business owners, however, have raised concerns that the tax could discourage tourists from booking cruises that stop in Mexico. 'We, as business owners, were very concerned, because Cozumel lives on cruise tourism,' said Carmen Joaquín, who owns a duty-free shop and serves as president of Cozumel's business coordinating council. The new tax has heated up tensions between the Mexican government and Royal Caribbean, which is planning to build a massive private resort in Mahahual, a Mexican seaside village. Royal Caribbean did not immediately respond to The Post's request for comment. 3 A Carnival cruise ship in a Mexican port. Mariakray – For months, the cruise operator has tangled with local officials over taxation, hiring and local investment requirements, as government officials pressure the company to employ more Mexican workers and use more Mexican products across its supply chain. Royal Caribbean is expected to make millions from its Perfect Day Mexico resort, which will feature the world's longest lazy river, as well as a huge swim-up bar, party cabana and sombrero-themed slide. The 200-acre resort, expected to open in 2027, will be able to accommodate about 15,000 people a day, according to analysts from Stifel. Local Mahahual business owners are fearful that the Disneyland-like resort will prevent cruise passengers from spending money at local businesses. 'It sounds like they want to keep all the cake for themselves,' Amelie Gautier, a restaurant owner in the area, told the Journal. 3 Royal Caribbean is expected to make millions from its Perfect Day Mexico resort. Wollwerth Imagery – Royal Caribbean estimates it will cost around $292 million to buy the land needed for Perfect Day Mexico, and boasted that the project will create more than 1,000 construction jobs and employ more than 2,000 people, according to a company representative. The new tax on cruise passengers is expected to weigh on Royal Caribbean's earnings, though the resort could still add more than $125 million annually to earnings before interest, taxes and other items, according to Stifel analysts. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum saw the tourist tax as a way to lower the nation's budget deficit without having to slash social programs. But it has worsened relations between cruise operators and local Mexican officials, who at one point disinvited Royal Caribbean executives from a meeting, according to the Journal. Michele Page, chief executive of the FCCA, said the industry and the Mexican government are trying to 'get our relationship back on track.' The trade group is seeking a meeting between the chief executives of major cruise lines and Sheinbaum.
Business Recorder
18-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
ACCA survey shows high employability for accountants
KARACHI: ACCA's Global Talent Trends Survey - 2025, now in its third year has drawn responses from over 10,000 finance professionals in 175 countries. It has revealed major shifts in career-ambitions, workplace-expectations, and professional priorities in the accountancy profession, around the world, including Pakistan. A key finding is that 52% of finance professionals globally, including 63% in India and 80% in Africa, aspire to become entrepreneurs, highlighting accountancy's role as a gateway to business ownership. Around 62% expect to change roles within two years, with 58% planning to move outside their current organizations, posing a retention challenge for employers. Jamie Lyon, FCCA, noted that 'The report highlights a 'workplace in transition' where accountancy builds strong foundations for entrepreneurship and evolving career paths.' Experts have noted that; Sustainability is another rising priority, with 67% showing interest in environmental-finance careers. Meanwhile, 76% of professionals prefer hybrid work, yet 51% still work entirely onsite. Financial uncertainty persists; as 41% are expecting pay increases of over 11%, due to the cost-of-living crisis. At the same time, half of respondents worry they're not acquiring future-proof skills, and only 42% report their organizations provide AI learning opportunities. Diversity concerns also remain, particularly around age inclusivity, with 45% saying: certain diversity aspects are emphasized more than others. Mental health pressures are easing slightly, but remain a concern, with 52% saying work affects their well-being. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Fox News
14-05-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Mexico rolls back its controversial new tax on cruise ship visitors
A tourism tax was rocking the boats in the cruise industry, imposing a charge on passengers. A $42 immigration levy for every passenger on cruise ships that dock in Mexico was voted in by the country's congress back in December, The Associated Press reported at the time. The Non-Resident Duty was to begin collection on Jan. 1 of this year. Then, due to strong criticism, the tax was pushed back to July. Now the tax has been dropped to $5 and will be implemented on July 1, the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) confirmed to Fox News Digital. "On behalf of the FCCA and our member cruise lines – representing over 95% of cruise capacity in the Caribbean and Latin America – we thank the Federal Government of Mexico for working with us to reach an 'in transit fee' agreement," the FCCA told Fox News digital. The association added that the move "safeguards cruise tourism to the country and aims to enhance the benefits for local communities whose livelihoods depend on it." The fee will gradually increase to $10 on Aug. 1, 2026, then will jump to $15 on July 1, 2027, through July 2028. Starting August 1, 2028, the fee will rise to $21. Before the tax delay was announced, Fox News Digital spoke with Stewart Chiron, a Miami-based cruise industry expert known as "The Cruise Guy." He anticipated that some sort of "amicable solution" would be made between cruise industry executives following the initial tax announcement. He also said that cruise passengers may opt "to skip" visiting Mexico if they had to pay an additional fee. About 16.9 million passengers from the United States cruised in 2023, according to the Cruise Lines International Association.
Travel Daily News
14-05-2025
- Business
- Travel Daily News
As uncertainty grows, Aquila doubles down on destination training
Aquila Center for Cruise Excellence emphasizes training Caribbean destinations to deliver exceptional guest experiences amid economic uncertainty and rising global competition in cruise tourism. MIAMI – As the cruise tourism industry navigates global economic recalibration and rising geopolitical uncertainty, the Aquila Center for Cruise Excellence is doubling down on its mission: training Caribbean destinations to deliver exceptional guest experiences, no matter the climate. At Seatrade Cruise Global 2025, Aquila Managing Partner Melanie Colpitts emphasized the growing importance of workforce development as a strategic advantage. 'When travelers are more selective with their spending, it's the destinations that consistently deliver excellence that will stand out,' said Colpitts. With the energy on the show floor buzzing, Aquila led strategic conversations focused on future-proofing the Caribbean's tourism product through long-term training investments. From cruise line executives to destination decision-makers, the message was clear: quality training pays off. Aquila, a leading training partner for the cruise industry for more than 15 years, unveiled new initiatives at the conference, including immersive VR-based programs developed in collaboration with Winged Whale Media. The team activated a dynamic takeover of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) booth, hosting live demonstrations, mini-training sessions, and interactive activities that illustrated how technology can enhance both the visitor experience and community capacity. Product development and sustainability were front and center in this year's training dialogue. 'Destinations want to build experiences that are not only memorable but meaningful and sustainable,' said Colpitts. 'It's about enriching the guest journey while protecting and celebrating the culture and communities that make the Caribbean so special.' With global economic uncertainty on the rise, Aquila is urging destinations not to retreat but to double down on service delivery. 'Even if arrivals dip, we must exceed expectations for guests. That kind of experience drives powerful word of mouth – and training is the foundation,' added Colpitts. As the official training partner of the FCCA, Aquila remains committed to raising performance standards across the Caribbean and Latin America, equipping destinations with the skills and tools to compete – and win – on the global stage.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cruise ship passengers must pay fee upon arriving in Mexico starting July 1
SAN DIEGO (Border Report) — Starting July 1, cruise-ship passengers arriving in any Mexican port will have to pay a $5 visitor fee. The Mexican government and the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association arrived at a compromise this week to implement the tariff on visitors. The FCCA represents 95% of cruise ships that make ports of call in Mexico. Mexico postpones cruise ship passenger fee for six months Six months ago, the Mexican government wanted to institute a $42 tariff on each passenger. After complaints from cruise ship operators and the FCCA, the fee was negotiated down. Over the next three years, however, the fee will increase to $21 per passenger. It will be added to the cost of a cruise, visitors won't pay the fee directly to the Mexican government. 'We are grateful to Mexico's federal government for collaborating with us to reach an agreement on the transit fee that protects cruise ship tourism increasing benefits to local communities whose livelihood depends on it,' read an FCCA statement. Visit the homepage for the latest exclusive stories and breaking news about issues along the U.S.-Mexico border According to the FCCA, about 3,300 cruise ships are expected to stop in Mexican ports this year bringing 10 million passengers with them. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
