| New French tax

THE French Senate has voted in favour of a new 15 per passenger tax (around A$26) for cruise ships.

Local news network Euronews reported the new levy is expected to follow a “polluter pays” model, which seeks to transfer both pollution and prevention costs onto the polluters themselves.

The National Assembly will now consider the motion before it can be passed into law, with a decision expected later this month.

Estimates place an annual value on the new levy at 75 million per year.

France has become increasingly cruise-negative in recent years, with the resort city of Cannes announcing a ban of all cruise ships carrying more than 1,000 passengers from next year.