WTTC adds voice to APD criticism

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has become the latest industry group to level criticism at the British government for its plans to increase taxation of flights out of the UK from this summer.

Any increase in air passenger duty (APD) would be a "short-sighted move" that would discourage long-haul travel and hinder the growth of emerging tourism markets, the council said.

The WTTC supported the government's decision to review the level of tax paid on flights to the Caribbean, saying that they are "particularly unfair".

According to the industry association, the illogical APD system means that travellers pay less to travel to some cities in the US than to destinations in the Caribbean, despite the fact that the American locations are further away.

Jean-Claude Baumgarten, president and chief executive of the WTTC, underlined the council's belief that the entire APD scheme should be scrapped.

He added: "The UK government's decision to increase the APD for departures from UK airports from this coming November shows that it continues to underestimate the economic importance of travel and tourism."

Virgin Atlantic has also criticised the plans to increase taxes on flights and urged travellers to write to their local MPs to express their own concerns.

Posted by Carrie, 04 August 2009 13:13

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