Adding to the steadily growing chorus of dissent against the Caribbean Tourism Organisation’s proposal for a $20 per passenger head tax on the cruise ship sector, the Barbados Daily Nation reported earlier this week that the government of Antigua was unwilling to support such a measure.
Speaking to Business Authority recently, Antiguan Minster of Tourism Molwyn Joseph indicated that the tax was likely to have a detrimental effect on the nation’s tourist industry. “We have looked at the situation and we are not convinced that the US$20 levy is in the best interest of Antigua and Barbuda at this time,” said Joseph.
Mr Joseph was also in attendance at the recent FCSS (Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association) tenth annual conference where organisation chairman Micky Arison was harshly critical of the proposed head tax saying the region’s governments should be doing the “exact opposite” if they want to encourage tourism.
According to FCCA President Michelle Paige, Prime Minister Douglas of St. Kitts and Minister Bush from the Cayman Islands have also expressed opposition to the tax.
By Amanda Banks, Tax-News.com
