18 June 2009

Jamaica lobbies UK Government over 'unfair' APD

Jamaican government officials met with UK MPs yesterday to lobby them over the increased Air Passenger Duty.

Prime Minister Golding and Tourism Minister Bartlett from Jamaica met MP Diane Abbott and other members of Parliament to outline how the tax is unfair and undermines Jamaican and Caribbean tourism.

Bartlett argued that the proposed new structure of the APD favours large developed countries over smaller ones, which operate in the same highly competitive environment.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœThe increased tax is inherently unfair and not the least bit Ã¢â¬ËœgreenÃ¢â¬â¢,Ã¢â¬~ he said.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœThe structure of APD as an environmental tax suggests that the impact of a flight to Jamaica or Barbados is greater than one to Miami, Los Angeles or Honolulu.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœWhy should Caribbean countries with relatively low emissions suffer the effects of an environmental tax, in favour of the worldÃ¢â¬â¢s biggest polluter?Ã¢â¬~

Bartlett, accompanied by director of tourism for Jamaica John Lynch, is also due to meet with travel industry leaders during his visit, including Andy Cooper, head of business development and consumer affairs ABTA & FTO, and head of the World Travel & Tourism Council, Jean Claude Baumgarten.

He will also meet with Conservative MP Greg Hands, known to have criticised the tax from its inception.

From November, economy class passengers to Jamaica face a tax of Ã&#pound;50 per ticket, and this amount increases to Ã&#pound;75 in 2010.

The proposed tax for premium economy, business, and first class tickets, will be double.

By Bev Fearis