TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands (CMC) — Visitors to the British Virgin Islands will, as of September 1, start paying an environmental and tourism levy of US$10 at ports of entry.

The Government, in an announcement, said the levy is being implemented after the House of Assembly passed the Environmental Protection and Tourism Improvement Fund Act 2017.

The Act was gazetted on June 12, paving the way for visitors arriving in the territory via air or sea to be charged the levy.

However, the legislation makes provision for some people to be exempted, including residents and belongers, non-residents two years old or under, and guests of the Government.

“Other exemptions include visitors arriving in the (British) Virgin Islands on a second or subsequent occasion in the course of the same visit, persons in transit who on arrival do not leave the airport or dock, and crew of vessels,” said a media release from the Government Information Service.

“All visitors must have the necessary documents available to help determine their status.”

The Government said the funds collected will be used to facilitate environmental protection and improvement, climate change, as well as the maintenance and development of tourist sites and other tourism-related activities.

This follows an announcement from the Government that, effective August 1, cruising permit fees for home and foreign-based charter boats will increase respectively to US$6 and US$16 per person per day.