Tourism lobby groups slam latest UK tax hike
Peak tourism industry groups in Australia and New Zealand have joined the clamour against the April 1 rise in the UK Air Passenger Duty (APD), claiming it will further accelerate already declining British visitor arrivals Down Under.
Tourism & Transport Forum Australia (TTF) and Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIA) have called the tax hike, “arbitrary and discriminatory” and want the issue discussed at the highest government levels.
TTF chief John Lee said, “This is the fourth APD rise since 2007 and the tax paid by an ordinary British traveller heading our way is now more than A$140.
“The APD impedes tourism, travel, trade and economic growth and unfairly penalises British residents wishing to visit long-haul destinations like Australia and New Zealand.
“It also slugs visitors to Britain from long-haul source markets and Malaysian-based carrier Air Asia X has cited today’s hike as a factor in its decision to cease flights between Gatwick and Kuala Lumpur.”
Lee said British arrivals to Australia fell 5.9 per cent in 2011, while the number of Brits visiting New Zealand in 2011 was down 4.0 per cent over 2010.
TIA policy and research manager Simon Wallace said, “The UK already has the highest departure tax in the world and this latest rise means a British family of four will pay more than NZ$736 in taxes just to leave the country.”
It would also deter Australians and New Zealanders from visiting Britain, he added.
Ian Jarrett
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