Rises in air tax will harm tourism in the Caribbean

ABTA is calling on holidaymakers to write to their MPs to stop the increase in air tax, which is due to go up in November 2010. ABTA believes the air tax increases will have a detrimental effect on tourism, particularly tourism in the Caribbean. From November, travellers will have to pay an extra £25 on air tax on flights to the Caribbean. And those that book seats with extra legroom will have to pay double.

Air tax, or air passenger duty (APD), has continued to rise in recent years, affecting long haul flights in particular. ABTA has stipulated that the increase in air tax is not relative to inflation, and that the increases are just not affordable.

A spokesman for ABTA said: 'Flying should not be the preserve of the rich and nor should it become more expensive for Brits to visit friends and family in the Caribbean. Raising taxes on flying harms tourism and damages the economies of Caribbean islands at the very time that they need help the most.'

Over the next five years, air tax looks set to double on long haul flights, which could have a devastating effect on tourism in the Caribbean. If long haul flights become less affordable, holidaymakers will start to travel to destinations closer to home, and tourism in certain countries will suffer.

ABTA's plea to British holidaymakers to take action against the air tax increases has coincided with the announcement that Virgin Atlantic will be adding extra Caribbean flights to their schedule. In October 2011, Virgin Atlantic will add a second weekly flight from Gatwick to Grenada and Tobago. But by then the air tax might be too high for some travellers, and as such the demand for flights to the Caribbean could be lower.

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