Aberdeen’s SNP finance chief says introducing a tax on cruise ship passengers could support the ambition of making the city a “leading visitor destination”.
The SNP government launched a cruise ship levy consultation on Thursday looking at whether to give new powers to areas including Aberdeen.
The Granite City has become a magnet for cruise ships and there are plans to receive even more this year.
We revealed how Port of Aberdeen is set for its busiest cruise season yet, with 62 confirmed cruise ship visits on the 2025 schedule.
Councillor Alex McLellan, finance convener at the city council, said it is positive news.
“This is something Aberdeen City Council could explore if partners, such as Port of Aberdeen, were supportive,” he said.
“There is the potential for such a scheme to help support our ambition for Aberdeen to be a leading visitor destination.”
Invergordon and Lerwick are among the top five busiest ports in Scotland for cruise ship passengers.
Analysis shows there were around 1,000 cruise ship visits to Scottish ports in 2024, bringing 1.2 million passengers.
This is an increase of almost 400,0000 a year compared with 2019.
Port of Cromarty against move
Bosses at Port of Cromarty Firth in the Highlands believe a cruise ship tax would have a “negative impact”.
They warned it would lead to increased cost for cruise operators and reduce passenger numbers.
Joanne Allday, head of strategy and business development at the port, said: “In 2024 a total of 214,000 passengers arrived at Invergordon during the cruise season.
“Were, for example, a £5 levy to be applied per passenger on that figure, it would amount to £1.07m extra cost for operators.
“Were that to result in a subsequent 10% drop in passenger numbers, the cost in direct spend to the Highland economy would be £2.3m.”
Scotland has already given councils the power to introduce a new “visitor levy” to tax overnight tourists.
It stopped short of taxing cruise ship passengers who stay on vessels moored in ports rather than in hotel accommodation.
Aberdeen City Council earlier this month voted through a tourist tax plan which would result in an extra £5 being added on top of an average hotel room priced at £70.
The proposed cruise ship levy would apply where passengers spend two or more nights on board.
It is not intended to apply to domestic ferry services or those visiting in private boats not carrying fee-paying passengers.
Orkney supports new cruise ship tax
Orkney Islands Council backs the idea of a locally-controlled cruise ship tax – estimating it could be worth over £1 million every year.
A report to councillors states Orkney saw a 237% increase since 2014, making it the UK’s most popular cruise ship destination.
A levy would allow the local authority to mitigate the impact of thousands of tourists on port communities and local infrastructure.
The Scottish Government is seeking views through a consultation, which opened on Thursday. It closes on May 30.
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