United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
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.
TravelMole Editorial Team
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.
Mark Jaronski of Explore Georgia on FIFA World Cup 2026
Connecting Small Businesses to Global Tourism Markets: Nate Huff of Tourism Exchange
North Carolina’s Resilience: Wit Tuttell on Recovery and Tourism
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
Craig Ray and the Expansion of the Blues Trail
Presenting Mississippi’s Cultural Trails with Katie Coats
BA suspending all Heathrow to Abu Dhabi flights
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Woman dies after going overboard in English Channel
Foreign Office issues travel advisory for winter sun destinations