Alaskan tax direct hit for cruise ships

As the Straight went to press, it appeared that Alaskans approved a controversial ballot measure to impose a US$50-per-passenger head tax and gambling tax on the cruise-ship industry. With 87 percent of the polls reporting on August 22, almost 53 percent of voters in the Alaska primary were in favour of Measure 2. It would also require the cruise-ship industry to disclose commissions it receives from on-shore businesses that it recommends to passengers.

One of the proponents of the ballot measure, Gershon Cohen, told the Straight that he is pleased that Alaskans are leading the world in letting the cruise-ship industry know that it must operate under the same rules as other businesses in the state.