Egypt joins other countries in fight against UK flight tax
Egypt’s national tourist board has joined more than 50 other agencies to send what it describes as a “strongly worded” petition to the British government regarding its plans to increase air passenger duty (APD).
Chancellor of the exchequer George Osborne confirmed this week that the tax on flights from the UK will be increased by about ten per cent in April 2012.
The duty, which is the highest enforced by any country in the world, starts at £12 per person for short-haul economy flights and rises to as much as £170 for long-haul services.
Egypt’s tourist board warned the government that the “onerous” tax will have an adverse effect on the economies of countries the UK has close links with, while Britain itself will end up being a “net loser” if the planned increase takes place.
In an unprecedented move, the organisation was joined by like-minded agencies such as the Bahamas Tourist Office, which stressed that tourism provides 70 per cent of the country’s GDP, meaning any rise in the cost of holidays could have serious consequences for the economy.
Sabrina Cambiasos, director of the Dominican Republic Tourist Board, said APD has already had a “devastating effect” on the country’s holiday market and warned that higher taxes would cause “even more damage”.
Tracey Poggio, chair of the Association of National Tourist Offices and Representatives, said the British government must take a more holistic view of aviation duty.
“It is clear from our 53 tourist office members that the UK’s stringent APD is having a direct effect on many destinations,” she added.