The Senate of Mexico has approved a law
that would levy a head tax of $5 per passenger on cruise passengers
who visit Mexican ports.
Mexico's Ministry
of Tourism said that the law would be implemented in
June.
The tax would
generate approximately $30 million a year, said the government,
with about 80% of the money going toward the infrastructure and
maintenance of municipalities with cruise ports.
Teofilo Hamui,
president of the Port of Costa Maya on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula,
said he did not support the tax. "Our main focus right now is
rebuilding [following damage from Hurricane Dean in August]," he
said.
Michelle Paige,
president of the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association, said that
the FCCA hoped to persuade the Mexican government not to implement
the tax.
Royal Caribbean
International President Adam Goldstein answered a question about
the tax during Royal Caribbean's third-quarter earnings
call.
"They can best
benefit their country by letting growth occur and benefits to
follow," Goldstein said. "As opposed to [taxing] the ships, revenue
raising should come in the form of consumer and cruise
spending."
To
contact reporter Johanna Jainchill, send e-mail to [email protected].