Cruse ship passengers face a new tax in Mexico (Image: Getty)
The cruise ship industry is up in arms over a that is set to be levied on its passengers.
The £33.18 per person charge could be implemented as early as 2026 for port calls in
Mexico’s congress voted to impose the new tax in November, according to local reports.
Local media reports that two-thirds of the revenue would be allocated to
The industry has started expressing its concern over the new charges.
Mexico is popular cruise destination (Image: Getty)
The and Cruise Association (FCCA) has written to the President of Mexico, demanding the tax be repealed.
The FCCA reportedly warned that the tax could “also jeopardize the cruise industry’s investments in the country”.
The organisation said this included “billions in planned developments and other projects intended to help rebuild and cultivate new Mexican tourist destinations”.
The Mexican Association of Shipping Agents has also raised concerns. It claimed the charge could render Mexico uncompetitively expensive for cruise operators.
The cruise ship industry says ‘billions’ in investment is now at risk (Image: Getty)
In a statement, the association said: “If this measure is implemented, it would make Mexican ports of call among the most expensive in the world, severely affecting their competitiveness with other “
The group has urged Mexico’s Senate to reject the proposal. It points out that two-thirds of the revenue is slated for the defense department, for reasons that remain unclear.
Previously, cruise ship passengers had been exempt from immigration fees since they sleep aboard the vessels and many do not disembark during port calls. Under the new budget law, however, they would reportedly be subject to the fee regardless.
While there have been global initiatives to limit cruise ship activity due to concerns about that ship has long sailed for Mexico’s Caribbean coast. for instance, has been the world’s busiest port of call for years, hosting around 4 million cruise passengers annually.