new Tax Threatening driving cruise Passengers away from Iceland have been described by industry groups as “the cause of concern.”
authorities Iceland Starting January 1, we introduced a cruise passenger fare of £14.35 (2,500 ISK) per person every 24 hours.
Regardless of when the cruise to Iceland is booked, the tax will be taken away and directed towards the island's funding infrastructure.
The move sparked complaints from some cruise companies and the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA), describing the tax as “a cause of concern.”
“The fees are disproportionate compared to similar fees in the travel and tourism sectors, but revenues are not directed towards rural communities.
“We address these concerns and ensure that port rate decisions will improve the traveler's experience while directly benefiting local communities and supporting sustainable growth. I'm looking for it.”
The CLIA said there is a need for a balanced approach to supporting the tourism industry and the local community. Iceland's Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs says a significant increase in the number of voyages on international cruise ships has hurt domestic tourism companies, particularly as cruise ships paid “limited taxes.”
The country saw a record 306,310 international cruise ship visitors in 2023. This is the latest figures from the Statista Show. Before the lull of the Covid pandemic, the figure rose from 62,700 in 2011 to 188,600 in 2019.
Icelandic ports have reported cuts in bookings, according to Jocar Olafsson, chairman of the Port Association's Cruise Iceland. Become independent By late January, reservations were 17% lower at popular ports.
Icelandic broadcaster Rúv reports that Harbourmasters of the ports Grundarfjörður, Vestmannaeyjar, Akureyri and Faxaflói have reported cancellations.
Norway is reportedly looking at scales like Iceland. Telecommunicationsmany countries are considering ways to deal with pressure from the cruise industry.
Venice has introduced restrictions on the size of ships that can be docked into the city. Amsterdam concludes the cruise ship visit, with Barcelona closing one of its terminals and limiting the ship number to 7.
Outside of Europe, opposition to cruise ships is said to be on the rise in Polynesia, including Maine, Florida, Mexico, Alaska and France.
