Vanterpool Proposes Higher Cruise Passenger Taxes
People’s Leadership Movement (PLM) leader Mark Vanterpool has proposed gradually increasing the tax charged on cruise ship passengers visiting the Virgin Islands from $16 to as much as $25 per person.
People’s Leadership Movement (PLM) leader Mark Vanterpool has proposed gradually increasing the tax charged on cruise ship passengers visiting the Virgin Islands from $16 to as much as $25 per person. He argued that the territory could generate millions of dollars in additional revenue to support public services.
Vanterpool, a former Communications and Works Minister, suggested the government should review the existing cruise passenger tax arrangements as agreements tied to the development of the Cyril B Romney Tortola Pier Park approach their anniversary. Speaking on the PLM’s People’s Mic podcast, Vanterpool said the territory should explore increasing the levy to $20 within the next two years, followed by $22 and eventually $25 per passenger. “[For] the cruise ships, we instituted a $16 head tax when we made a deal 15 years ago,” Vanterpool stated.
He questioned whether the territory should revisit the arrangement as the original agreement approaches the end of its stated period. “Are we going to start looking at increasing that?” Vanterpool asked. The PLM leader estimated that an increase in the passenger tax, combined with annual cruise arrivals of between one million and 1.2 million visitors, could eventually generate between $25 million and $30 million.
He said the additional revenue could benefit the BVI Ports Authority and the wider territory. Vanterpool also proposed reviewing other tourism-related taxes, including increasing the accommodation tax from 10 per cent to 12 per cent and doubling the $10 environmental entry levy to $20. “Can we move that from $10 to $20?
Would the tourists be objective to give $20 for coming in to be able to help our environment and help other issues that we need to do?” he questioned. He argued that the government should examine these revenue-generating options as it considers how to finance public services and address residents’ needs.
Vanterpool also called for greater efforts to increase spending by cruise visitors, estimating that the average passenger currently spends less than $100 in the territory. “Can we create more activity that can get the tourists who come on crew ships to spend more when it comes to BVI?” he asked.
He identified taxi operators, restaurants, shops, beaches and vendors among those benefiting from the cruise industry and said tourism should deliver more direct economic benefits to residents. The proposal follows earlier calls for cruise passengers to contribute more towards environmental protection.
In January 2025, former Junior Minister Shereen Flax-Charles renewed her call for cruise visitors to pay the $10 environmental levy, from which they are exempt under existing berthing arrangements. Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley acknowledged the proposal but cautioned that additional charges could discourage cruise visits.
Primary source: BVI News