Bahamas plans cruise tax hikes
The Bahamas is proposing hiking cruise taxes in a bid to triple the revenue it receives from the cruise industry.
The Government of the Bahamas hopes to raise annual revenues of about $145 million, up from the $50 million it receives now.
Under the Passenger Tax Amendment Bill 2023 the $18 per passenger departure tax would increase by nearly a third.
This is for cruises leaving the ports of Nassau and Freeport.
That would increase to $25 per passenger for vessels leaving a private island and not visiting another port in the country.
The new bill also proposes two new cruise industry fees.
A $5 tourism environment tax would be levied, along with a $2 tourism enhancement tax on cruise ship guests.
It would take the total payable to $30, or $32 from a private island.
The increased passenger departure tax and the tourism environment tax would come into effect next month.
The enhancement fee would start from January 1, 2024.
The cruise tax hikes come just after the completion of major upgrade work at Nassau Cruise Port which cost about $300 million.
It can now handle up to six ships a day.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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