Tax rise starts to bite
Almost half of UK holidaymakers will travel less next year following last week’s increase in Air Passenger Duty, according to survey by World Travel Market.
Of the 1,000 people polled, 45% said they planned to cut down on overseas flights and more than a third of these blamed the tax increase.
Almost one in 10 said the rise meant they would no longer be able to afford an overseas holiday.
Some Caribbean islands claim visitor numbers from the UK have dropped 25% since the APD rise in 2009.
The UK government has proposed replaced APD with a per plane tax, but this would result in fewer people flying, according to WTM’s survey.
Of those quizzed, 41% said such a move would prompt them to cut back on overseas flights and 10% said they would stop foreign holidays altogether.
By Linsey Mcneill
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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