The Scottish Green party is highlighting results of a consultation survey which claims nearly two-thirds of Scots support a tax on cruise passengers.
The Scottish Government’s consultation initiative was to explore the possibility of cruise ship levies which could be imposed by local authorities.
The Greens say 62% of people who responded to the consultation comments would back a tax on cruise ships to mitigate the negative effects in local communities and fund environmental projects.
Scottish Green MSP Ariane Burgess said: “This is an important step forward for local councils and our environment, and I’m glad to see it gaining wide support.”
“We have already had great success with the visitor levy brought forward by the Scottish Greens to help fund councils to invest in local services.
“It will make a big difference for communities across Scotland, like Greenock, Kirkwall, Ullapool and Rosyth who host these luxury ships regularly.”
“Cruise ships can bring a lot of benefits from tourism, but we also know that it can put a lot of pressure on the local environment, infrastructure and services,” Burgess added.
According to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) cruise ship visits generated £343 million in total economic output in Scotland in 2023.
However, CLIA claims imposing a cruise levy can lead to an estimated 20% loss in economic impact.
