No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsBusinessLawmakers propose tax cut for cruise ships docking at Caldera port

Lawmakers propose tax cut for cruise ships docking at Caldera port

A special legislative commission evaluating problems in the coastal province of Puntarenas wants to cut in half the tax charged to tourists arriving on cruise ships to the central Pacific’s Caldera port. On Thursday the commission approved the drafting of a bill that would reduce the tax from $3 to $1.50.

The $3 tax has sparked complaints from many tourists, National Liberation lawmaker Karla Prendas Matarrita said.

The proposed bill aims to attract more tourists and therefore boost income for the tourism industry in the central Pacific area, Prendas said.

Currently, the nearby Puntarenas dock and cruise ship docks in the Caribbean province of Limón charge $1.50. That’s also the standard in other Central American and Caribbean ports, Prendas noted.

“The $3 tax is the main thing discouraging tourists from docking at Caldera,” Prendas said. The legislator also believes the high fee is the reason why many cruise companies are choosing ports in Panama and Nicaragua.

In 2014, 20 cruise ships docked at Caldera port “and most of them arrived only because other ports were busy,” Prendas said.

The draft bill now will be sent for discussion and approval by the full Assembly.

Trending Now

Judicial Corruption Exposed in Costa Rica’s Latest Drug Bust

Costa Rican authorities took down a cocaine smuggling operation Tuesday that moved drugs from South America to the United States, with a judicial worker...

Keylor Navas Leads Pumas to Victory in His Liga MX Debut

Keylor Navas kicked off his Mexican league journey with Pumas UNAM in style, leading the team to a 2–0 win over Querétaro at Estadio...

Honduras Reinstates Mask Mandate Amid Rise in Respiratory Illnesses

Honduran health officials have reinstated a nationwide mask mandate following a spike in respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, flu, and a fast-spreading Omicron subvariant known...

Costa Rica Launches Traceability System to Tackle Illegal Logging

Costa Rica is advancing with the creation of a National Forest Traceability System, a key tool to guarantee the legality and sustainability of timber...

Nicaragua Places Bayardo Arce Under House Arrest Amid Power Struggle

The Nicaraguan government has placed historic Sandinista commander Bayardo Arce, economic adviser to President Daniel Ortega, under house arrest, according to exiled opposition members...

Empty Stadiums and Inequality Mar Women’s Copa América

Nearly empty stadiums, players' criticism of the organization, and demands for equality in South American football have marked the 2025 Women's Copa América in...
L. Arias
L. Arias
Reporter | The Tico Times |
spot_img
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica