SAN JUAN -- The
government of Puerto Rico approved the creation of a $10.7 million
fiscal incentive package for the cruise industry, which includes
breaks on port taxes, other provisions and fees for ships making
San Juan its homeport.
Currently, all cruise
passengers pay a $13.25 head tax in San Juan. As part of the
program, the Puerto Rico Tourism Co. (PRTC) will return to the
cruise lines a $2.95 destination incentive for each passenger who
visits San Juan. In addition, cruise lines that bring between
10,000 and 139,000 passengers will receive a $2 per passenger
refund; those that bring more will get a $4.50 per person
break.
Cruise ships that use
San Juan as a frequent homeport will receive a $1 per passenger
discount, in addition to a discount on fees for ships that stay
longer than eight hours. Companies also get a 10% discount on local
food, beverages and manufactured goods.
Gov. Acevedo Vila, the
governor of Puerto Rico, said Puerto Ricos central government will
contribute $4 million to the incentive fund; the PRTC will
contribute $6.7 million.
The plan, the governor
said, is to increase the number of visitors from 1.3 million to 1.7
million annually and increase the economic impact of the cruise
industry here from $300 million to $500 million over a five-year
period.
To contact the
reporter who wrote this article, send e-mail to Rebecca Tobin at [email protected].