The Cayman Islands government has doubled its departure tax for air passengers from U.S. $10 to U.S. $20.

The increase puts the British Caribbean territory's exit fee at about the same level as those of other resort islands, Deputy Financial Secretary Joel Walton said recently. Officials have not said when the new law will be published.

The new measure, passed recently by the legislature, will go into effect as soon as the new law is officially published. Some of the money will go toward an environmental protection fund, but most will go toward the Civil Aviation Authority.

The increase does not affect the cruise ship departure tax.