Bdos: CTO abandons effort to raid pockets of cruise passengers

Caribbean tourism officials backed down on Wednesday from a proposal to charge cruise ship passengers a US$20 tax when visiting the region, citing staunch opposition from cruise lines.

Proceeds from the tax, which was proposed by the Barbados-based Caribbean Tourism Organisation and discussed for the past two years, were intended to go toward environmental conservation projects and infrastructure improvements.

However, CTO Secretary-General Jean Holder said the idea has gone by the wayside.

“At this time, there has been no consensus on levying the tax, and there is no point in being stuck along the way while the business of finding funds is ongoing,” he said.

Holder’s comments followed staunch opposition from the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association, which said its members’ profit margins were too small to absorb the tax and that clients would balk at paying an extra US$20 a person. Speaking while attending the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Investment Conference, Holder said tourism officials have decided to look into other avenues.