a new tax was just made in alaska to charge $50 per person to tourists on cruise ships, do you think that that would be enough to keep you from cruising.
2006-09-01 20:17:07 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ United States ➔ Seattle
To the other Alaskan: you ought to vote, like in the election last Tuesday. Or maybe not, if you're not up to date.
This tax was passed by citizen initiative. It is the sort of thing that couldn't pass the legistature which is lobbied a lot by oil/logging/cruise/etc industries.
I voted for it because it seemed that $50 isn't much of a tax on $2000-4000 cruise. And the cruise lines have to compete with each other and have to be priced according to our great scenery but potential snotty weather (versus, say, the West Coast of Mexico). So part of it just comes from cruise ship profits. They certainly saw it that way because they fought it very hard.
It also requires them to disclosure their relationship with the businesses they promote in their on-ship videos, etc. Small businesses that didn't give them a kick-back were being bypassed by shore-based excursion companies that would buy their way into the cruise ship promotions.
Several cruise lines have been nailed for dumping untreated sewage in Alaskan waters (they're supposed to treat it or go 15 miles off-shore). And the state and some towns have built huge docks, etc for the ships. Town-based businesses do profit, but with no state sales tax and minimal in-state employment by the cruise lines (mostly foreign workers on board), the state see very little revenue.
I sure pay a lot more than 2-3% on my rental car in Seattle because that is how they decided to subsidize those two new stadiums. Doesn't stop me from going there.
2006-09-03 13:21:20 · answer #1 · answered by David in Kenai 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It wouldn't stop me from taking an Alaskan cruise, as I'd already be paying so much that another $50 isn't significant. They are smart to tax their visitors instead of their residents. It's a genious idea and they know that they can depend on the income, because it's small enough that cruisors will pay it, and large enough that they'll make a butt-load of money.
2006-09-02 05:58:42 · answer #2 · answered by seattlecutiepie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hmmmm i live in AK and i didn't hear nothing about it...
2006-09-01 20:27:08 · answer #3 · answered by Claudia H 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋