The Scottish government is looking to crack down on the impact cruise tourists have on local communities and the emissions ships produce with the introduction of a new levy.

The Scottish Green Party put forward the tax to tackle the “twin challenges” of reducing the amount of emissions being released and the impact of tourists on port towns.

The party, which governs in Scotland in coalition with Scottish National Party (SNP), said it hopes the levy will also encourage cruise operators to switch to zero emission vessels.

Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater said the move will give communities hosting cruise ships “the investment they deserve”.

“This is essential – one ship produces the same amount of carbon emissions as 12,000 cars; operators have been allowed to get away with polluting for too long,” she added. “A cruise ship levy will empower councils to help tackle this global problem.”

Scottish government latest to clamp down on cruise

The move is the latest proposal put forward by cruise port cities in a bid to clamp down on cruise emissions and tourism.

Barcelona earlier this month banned cruise ships from docking in its central port, Amsterdam confirmed plans to clamp down on cruise ships earlier this year and Venice put a stop to large cruise ships docking in its Guidecca canal in 2019.

However, in recent years the cruise industry has moved to improve its sustainability credentials with a number of initiatives, such as Hurtigruten’s plans to launch a zero-emission ship in 2030 and Portsmouth Port securing a grant of £19.8 million to operate a shore power system at three berths.