TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Tourists planning to travel on a cruise ship to Europe should be prepared as some countries are imposing a tourist tax on cruise ship passengers. One of them is Norway, which will impose an additional fee for cruise ship passengers visiting for a day. Initially, cruise ship passengers were not included in the new tourist tax plan. However, it was eventually added after criticism of the environmental impact of cruise ships. Norway welcomes nearly six million cruise ship passengers in 2024. Three of the most frequently visited ports include Alesund, Bergen, and Stavanger.
Norwegian Tourist Tax
The tourist tax in Norway, which will take effect in the summer of 2026 for overnight stays and cruise ship passengers, is three percent. During 2024, there were 38.6 million people who booked accommodation there, increasing the number of visitors by 4.2 percent from the previous year.
This tourist fee is voluntary, so local governments can choose whether to impose the fee or not. Local governments that implement the tax can use the money to invest in services such as hiking trails and facilities.
"Not all tourism is available throughout the year across the country, but in some places, there are some parts of the year that are very demanding, and the expenses that residents have to pay are very high," said Cecilie Myrseth, Norway's Minister of Trade and Industry, as quoted by Norwegian broadcaster NRK as reported by Daily Mail.
Tourist Tax on Cruise Ships in Other Countries
But Norway is not the only European country to impose a tax on cruise ship passengers. Amsterdam imposes a 'daily travel tax' on cruise ship passengers, while in Barcelona, cruise ship tourists are charged for overnight stays. Lisbon, Venice, and Majorca also impose tourist taxes on cruise ship passengers. The tax is usually collected by port authorities or may already be included in the cruise ship price.
Even before Norway, Greece will impose a tax on cruise ship passengers on July 1, 2025. This tax will be applied to cruise ship passengers visiting some popular islands in the country, such as Mykonos and Santorini. The implementation of this tax is an effort to address the high number of tourists and as an attempt to
The amount of tax for passengers arriving in Santorini and Mykonos is 20 euros or around Rp 375,000 during the peak tourist season, between June 1 and September 30, as quoted from Express UK. During the mid-season and off-peak season, it decreases to 12 euros or around Rp 225,000 and 3 euros or around Rp 56,000.
While in other Greek ports, the costs vary depending on the season. For example, during the peak season, between June 1 and September 30, passengers are charged 5 euros or around Rp 93,000. Meanwhile, during the off-peak season in April, May, and October, passengers are charged 3 euros or around Rp 56,295 and decreases to 1 euro or around Rp 18,765. between October 1 and May 31. Although the cost per individual may seem small, it can affect the overall cost of a cruise vacation.
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