Latest news with #Florida-CaribbeanCruiseAssociation
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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hindustan Times
10-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Mexico just hit cruise passengers with a new 'visitor fee'— And it's not optional
In a recent development, passengers who arrive by cruise ships to any port in Mexico will have to pay up a $5 visitor fee. This rule will be applicable from July 1, as announced by the Mexican government and the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association. Both entities arrived at this compromise to derive a tariff from visitors to these ports. Just six months ago, the Mexican government demanded that this tariff per passenger should be $42, but after long talks with the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), the amount of $5 was fixed for now. This was mainly after complaints from cruise operators and the FCCA themselves. The fee was then negotiated on the basis of these complaints, citing the protection of cruise ship tourism. ALSO READ | After Ras Baraka's arrest, 2 other Democrats spotted breaching Delaney Hall ICE center However, according to Border Report, this amount will increase up to $21 in the next three years. Moreover, this fee will be directly added to the cruise package, and no separate payments have to be made by passengers to the Mexican government. The tour operators will be taking care of the same from their end. The Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association thanked Mexico's federal government in a statement, saying, "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." As per FCCA data, more than 3,000 cruise ships will land up at Mexican ports over the year and will be bringing in nearly 10 million passengers. This would mean that Mexico's federal government will be earning more than $50 million in transit fee from cruise ship passengers within the year. Once this tariff increases, so will the government's earnings from it.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mexico slashes controversial cruise tax after backlash
The Mexican government has U-turned on a hefty cruise tax that would have charged $42 per passenger for docking at its ports. Mexico's federal government has reportedly agreed to a lower amount and a phased roll-out of the cruise tax after pressure from the cruise industry and local governments where cruises contribute to the economy, industry magazine The Maritime Executive reported, citing Mexican newspapers. Negotiations, which started in December, delayed the rollout for six months. Initially, the federal government announced in late 2024 that it would end an exemption for cruise passengers from the tourist tax charge known as a 'Non-Resident Duty'. The tax was to be set at $42 per passenger as of 1 January 2025, in addition to potential higher costs depending on local port taxes. The government then allowed for this to be delayed until 1 July, giving the cruise industry time to adjust to the new taxes as well as starting negotiations to find a compromise. The Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), which represents 23 cruise lines such as Carnival, P&O and Royal Caribbean, was heavily involved in striking a compromise with the government. In December, the association sent a letter to Mexico's president, Claudia Sheinbaum, claiming that the tax would make cruise tourism in Mexico 213 per cent more expensive than the average Caribbean port, stating that the country would be priced out of the market. "This proposed tax could also jeopardise cruise industry investments in the country – including billions in planned development and other projects – meant to help rebuild Acapulco, cultivate new Mexican tourist destinations, employ more Mexican seafarers, and provide social programs to help underserved communities in Mexico', the FCCA's CEO Michele Paige wrote. After months of talks, Mexican media is reporting that a deal is now in place, with the tax on passengers significantly reduced from its initial $42 starting point. The tax will still begin in July, but at $5 per person, which will stay in place for the next 13 months. From August 2026 to July 2027, it will then increase to $10 per person and then $15 in 2027-2028. By November 2028, it will increase to $21 per passenger. The fee will be collected once per itinerary. The FCCA celebrated the tax reduction, saying in a statement: 'We thank the Federal Government of Mexico for working with us to reach an 'in transit fee' agreement that safeguards cruise tourism to the country and aims to enhance the benefits for local communities whose livelihoods depend on it. "The cruise industry is a success story for Mexico, contributing roughly $1 billion USD in direct spending to the economy in the past year alone. "This agreement demonstrates what we can accomplish together to foster opportunities for shared growth and success through ongoing, open dialogue and partnership with Mexico officials." Cruise lines have also agreed to support port infrastructure projects, such as a proposed fourth pier in Cozumel, as well as promote Mexican goods aboard their ships, The Maritime Executive said. The Independent has contacted the FCCA and Mexico's National Confederation of Chambers of Commerce, Services and Tourism for comment.
USA Today
07-05-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Mexico cruise passenger fee will take effect this summer. Here's how much you'll pay.
Mexico cruise passenger fee will take effect this summer. Here's how much you'll pay. Show Caption Hide Caption How to find the best price, perks when booking a cruise Find the cruise that works for your budget with these tips. Problem Solved Mexico will implement a new cruise passenger fee starting at $5 in July 2025. The fee, initially set at $42, was lowered after industry pushback and will gradually increase over the next few years. Previously, cruise passengers were exempt from such taxes. There's a new fee for cruise passengers looking for a sunny escape. Mexico's new cruise passenger fee will be much lower than expected when it takes effect this summer. According to the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), cruise guests visiting the country will pay $5 beginning on July 1, rather than the previously announced $42 rate. That will go up to $10 between August 1, 2026, and June 2027; $15 from July 1, 2027, to July 2028; and $21 on August 1, 2028. FCCA's member lines make up more than 95% of cruise capacity in Latin America and the Caribbean. The fee will be collected once per itinerary. "The cruise industry is a success story for Mexico, contributing roughly $1 billion USD in direct spending to the economy in the past year alone," its statement read. "This agreement demonstrates what we can accomplish together to foster opportunities for shared growth and success through ongoing, open dialogue and partnership with Mexico officials." What are tourist taxes?: Why travelers are expected to pay up Mexico's National Confederation of Chambers of Commerce, Services and Tourism did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The fee was originally expected to be implemented in January before being delayed six months amid pushback from the cruise industry, which warned it could have potentially dire impacts. Cruise passengers had previously been exempt from tourist taxes under the Non-Migrant Rights policy since they were considered in transit, according to the Mexican Association of Shipping Agents (AMANAC). More than 10 million cruise passengers are expected to visit Mexico in 2025, FCCA said in December. Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@
