Our pax tax is world’s worst, says Australian lobby group
Australia’s peak national industry body, Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF), has taken the fight against the passenger movement charge (PMC) to a key worldwide audience.
World tourism leaders meeting at the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) Global Leadership Summit in Abu Dhabi have been told the PMC is now the highest departure tax in the developed world for short-haul travel.
TTF’s Passenger Movement Charge Explained fact sheet was provided to WTTC summit attendees, who include former US president Bill Clinton.
TTF acting CEO Trent Zimmerman said the fact the PMC has reached the agendas of world bodies shows federal government action on the issue is overdue.
"The international tourism community has long lobbied against countries that threaten the growth of their tourism sectors by imposing excessive air travel taxes," Zimmerman said.
"We are not surprised to see Australia join the ranks of the worst offenders. Last year’s A$8 rise to A$55 coupled with a strong exchange rate has catapulted the PMC up the travel tax league table to second, behind only the UK’s air passenger duty.
"As bad as the UK’s air passenger duty is, you can fly from London to Algeria, Greenland or Turkey and pay one-third of the tax you would pay on a flight from Darwin to Dili – Australia’s shortest international sector.
"The world is taking note. Last month the World Economic Forum’s Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report ranked Australia 130 out of 140 nations for its air ticket taxes," Zimmerman said.
Ian Jarrett
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