Now give tourism a treat, urges TTF
Peak national body, Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF) has attacked the Australian government’s passenger movement charge (PMC), claiming, "this tax will over-collect by AUD560 million this financial year alone".
TTF director, aviation policy, Justin Wastnage said, "The PMC must be reconfigured as a genuine user charge for border services if Australia is to remain a competitive tourism destination."
He said the PMC was being used as a revenue raiser "and this industry is feeling the effects, especially from its short haul markets. The PMC went up to AUD55 from July 1, and arrivals from New Zealand fell 4.5% that month".
The TTF statement follows a government decision to exempt low risk products such as commercially prepared packaged food from declaration at the border.
TTF said the move would be welcomed by international visitors, "who are often surprised at the severity of existing quarantine rules".
Wastnage said the decision marks the successful move from mandatory screening to a risk-based approach, which will see visitors processed more quickly.
"The last thing we want is for visitors to be held up in frustrating, long biosecurity clearance queues for their chocolate bars and favourite food from home," he said.
TTF said with both Customs and Quarantine moving to a risk-based approach to processing, "each agency is more efficient, so the funds needed to support their services have decreased, yet the tax (PMC) has gone up".
Ian Jarrett
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025