Cruise lines have expressed concern over the Greek government’s plans to impose a cruise passenger tax in 2025, saying that they will have to absorb much of the cost, due to advanced bookings across the industry.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mistotakis announced that passengers disembarking in Mykonos, Santorini and possibly other islands, will be charged a levy of €20 (R396) each from 2025, as reported by Travel News.
At a meeting between the Union of Shipowners and Cruise Ships and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Island Policy, the union said that the timing of the tax was important for the industry.
Because cruise lines typically begin selling cruises many months in advance of the cruise date, the pre-sale of cruises for 2025 is already underway. If the government were to impose the tax in 2025, cruise lines would be unable to pass the tax onto passengers in the cost of the ticket. This would leave the cruise lines to absorb the added cost.
Once the tax can be added to the cost per passenger, the union is concerned that the extra amount would push travellers to other destinations, reports Naftemporiki.gr.
The union has asked for a delay in the tax until 2026
