Shona Robison has confirmed today that the Scottish Government is planning to hand new powers to councils to impose a levy on visiting cruise ships.
The finance secretary told MSPs during a debate in Holyrood ministers would be "engaging with local authorities and stakeholders over the coming months" on the proposal.
She was pressed by the Scottish Greens MSP Ross Greer if the policy would be brought in by the end of the current parliament.
"Yes subject to consultation we need to have," Ms Robison said.
"It is important we get it right and we are keen to move forward as quickly as we can."
The move is likely to be supported by local authorities who can chose to bring in the tax as an additional means of raising revenue. However port authorities are concerned it could put off cruise liners from visiting.
Last year Labour's Inverclyde Council leader Stephen McCabe backed the move.
He told the Greenock Telegraph last year: “I doubt very much that a levy of a few pounds per passenger would have a detrimental impact on the number of cruise liners or passengers visiting Greenock when people already pay hundreds of pounds to go on a cruise.”
Cosla, which represents local government across the country, earlier this year said it wanted powers for councils to introduce a cruise ship levy "as soon as practically possible" given the "growing challenges" presented by the sector.
Scotland has become a key cruise destination driven partly by the war in Ukraine and the loss of traditionally popular routes in the Baltic.
With port expansions at Stornoway and Aberdeen and investment at Greenock, more than a million cruise ship passengers are due to dock this year, with several key ports reporting recordbreaking numbers of bookings. It has coincided with the arrival of ever bigger vessels, such as MSC Virtuosa - with 18 decks and accommodation for up to 6,334 passengers and 1,704 crew - at Lerwick this summer.
The Scottish cruise industry generates around £23 million for the economy and supports more than 800 employees, according to latest pre pandemic figures.
If the cruise tax goes ahead, Scotland would follow cities such as Barcelona and Amsterdam in charging a cruise passenger levy, with Croatia also imposing a tax to raise funds for local services and infrastructure.
Legislation to allow councils to bring in a tourist tax did not include cruise liner passengers - despite Cosla demanding it did.
A briefing by Cosla for MSPs in May stated: "Cosla leaders continue to support the proposal for councils to have the ability to introduce a Cruise Ship Levy as soon as practically possible.
"Cruise ship tourism is both a welcome source of revenue and a growing challenge for the services and facilities used by communities across our coastal councils.
"Across Scotland, overnight visitors staying on cruise ships access the same services and facilities as both visitors staying in accommodation such as hotels, as well as residents.
"However, cruise ship passengers fall outwith the Bill’s scope and will not be liable to pay a levy. Cosla officers and colleagues in councils have been working closely with the Scottish Government to develop a joint proposal for a cruise ship levy."
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