A NEW $20 per passenger head tax on cruise
ships docking in Sydney will make the port one
of the most expensive in the world, according
to John Lee, Chief Executive of the Tourism and
Transport Forum.
The controversial tax is set to be introduced
in July next year and will increase to $25pp in
2014 and $30pp in 2015.
Cruise lines, which currently pay a berthing
fee of $250 an hour, had proposed a $5pp tax,
which was rejected by the NSW Government.
State Minister for Roads and Ports Duncan
Gay said the new pricing structure would “allow
a greater investment in cruise infrastructure”.
“It’s only fair to ask the cruise industry to
help meet the costs,” Gay said.
But as a TTF spokesperson explained to CW,
it is passengers who will pay the fee.
“The cruise industry recognises that it should
pay its fair share but this new charge goes
beyond cost recovery and is designed to give
Sydney Ports a new profit stream,” Lee said.
“Overnight, Sydney Harbour will become one
of the world’s most expensive for cruise ships.”
He said TTF was concerned that other states
may follow NSW’s lead, leading to additional
costs for passengers visiting several Australian
ports.
“TTF urges the NSW Government to
undertake genuine consultations with the
industry before the tax commences in 2013 to
devise a system that more fairly recovers
costs,” Lee said.
