Airlines hit back at plan by Labour to charge tourists
Airlines have expressed concerned over Labour’s proposal to charge tourists arriving from countries not needing a visa.
Shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper has suggested tourists from the US and 55 other countries are charged £10 in order to fund 1,000 more border guards should Labour get into power.
Under the proposals, nationals in countries enjoying a ‘visa waiver’ system of fast-track permission to enter the UK will have to pay the fee per visit.
But Nathan Stower, chief executive of the British Air Transport Association (BATA), said airlines had significant concerns about the plan.
He said: "Visitors from countries like the USA and Australia already pay the highest air passenger tax in the world to fly to the UK – £71 from next April – contributing billions of pounds to the Treasury.
"Adding yet another charge will make the UK more uncompetitive in attracting tourists, businesses and inbound investment.
"It is not clear how this proposed charge would be collected. The vast majority of visitors from those countries that are not required to obtain a visa to enter the UK, such as the USA, do not currently provide information to UK authorities ahead of their visit.
"Furthermore, if more money were to be raised from airline passengers alone, it would only fair for this to fund improvements in the border at airports and not at other ports of entry such as Calais."
Diane
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