Legislation imposing new fees on cruise ships was tabled in the House of Assembly.

The Bermuda Tourism Authority Amendment Bill 2019 was brought by Zane DeSilva, the tourism minister.

Travellers leaving the island by passenger vessel will be charged $16 each, paid to the BTA, for visits between April 1 and October 31. Exemptions cover infants, crew, and passengers on ships arriving by reason of distress, as well as government and consular officials.

Other fees for cruise ships were brought by Curtis Dickinson, the Minister of Finance.

The Miscellaneous Taxes Amendment Bill 2019 upped the penalty for non-payment of passenger departure tax from $25 to $75. For ships deemed “large”, including vessels with more than 4,000 passengers, a tax will be levied at $22 per passenger only between April 1 and October 31.

A tax on passengers will remain set at $20 per passenger, for each 24-hour period in Hamilton or St George’s, up to a maximum of $60.

For Dockyard, that fee will rise to $25 per passenger, to a maximum of $75.