Two thirds support introducing Green cruise ship levy
The Scottish Greens have welcomed a new Scottish Government consultation showing that almost two thirds of respondents supported the introduction of a cruise ship levy that will help reinvest in local councils and the environment.
The cruise ship levy was part of a range of Green proposals that introduce tourist taxes to help alleviate the impact of tourism on local communities.
62% of people who took part in the consultation supported a cruise ship levy, which was first secured by the Scottish Greens in 2023 as part of a push to expand the Green’s visitor levy policies across Scotland.
The tax, which will be applied locally, will ensure investment to support communities hosting cruise ships, some of which are overwhelmed by thousands of visitors at a time.
Responding to the results, party spokesperson Ariane Burgess MSP said:
“This is an important step forward for local councils and our environment, and I’m glad to see it gaining wide support.
“We have already had great success with the visitor levy brought forward by the Scottish Greens to help fund councils to invest in local services.
“It will make a big difference for communities across Scotland, like Greenock, Kirkwall, Ullapool and Rosyth who host these luxury ships regularly.
“Cruise ships can bring a lot of benefits from tourism, but we also know that it can put a lot of pressure on the local environment, infrastructure and services. Locals should not be left picking up the bill.
“What this cruise ship levy will do is further expand tourism taxes, giving communities who host cruise ships the power to raise money for local councils. The money raised can then be reinvested into the local community for tourists and locals alike to enjoy.”