France is set to become the latest destination to impose new charges on cruise tourism, with lawmakers advancing plans for a tax on foreign passengers arriving by sea.
The proposal would see travellers pay around $27 per person for every French port call. The amendment has already cleared the French Senate as part of the 2026 draft budget, with officials positioning the measure as a necessary step to mitigate the environmental pressures associated with the booming cruise sector.
Government estimates suggest the levy could generate up to €750 million annually. The funds would be ring-fenced for environmental protection projects, including efforts to preserve and restore France’s coastline – a key drawcard for the very visitors contributing to its strain.
This latest move follows stricter port policies introduced elsewhere along the Riviera. Cannes will ban ships carrying more than 1,000 passengers from 1 January next year, while Nice has capped annual cruise calls at 65.
The tightening comes amid a surge in cruise arrivals: more than 3.8 million passengers passed through mainland French ports in 2023, according to Atout France.
Designed around a “polluter pays” principle, the tax aims to ensure that the financial burden of environmental damage – and the cost of preventing it – falls on those responsible rather than local communities.
With this proposal, France joins other European nations, including Greece and Norway, that have recently introduced tougher measures to manage the environmental and social impact of cruise tourism.
Greece introduces new cruise passenger tax to combat overtourism
