The survey published by Halifax Travel Insurance regarding the effect of increasing Air Passenger Duty (APD) addresses less than half the story according to UKinbound. Whilst UKinbound is not disputing the…
The survey published by Halifax Travel Insurance regarding the effect of increasing Air Passenger Duty (APD) addresses less than half the story according to UKinbound. Whilst UKinbound is not disputing the figures quoted by the survey and the resulting claim that the doubling of this tax is insufficient to deter UK holidaymakers from flying abroad, the survey has chosen to look at just one element of the visitor economy and ignores entirely the more significant effect upon the export-earning inbound market.
UKinbound Chief Executive, Stephen Dowd, said “The increase in APD is yet another factor that weakens our international competitiveness and deters visitors from travelling to this country. UK holidaymakers have no option but to pay the increased tax if they wish to travel abroad and most will choose to do so, even if many opt for a cheaper destination. Potential overseas visitors also have a wide selection of destinations available to them and will see this additional tax as a further disincentive to choose the UK.”
“Early indications are that we will lose a considerable amount of business to cheaper destinations as a direct result of this unjustified tax increase and if UK citizens continue to travel overseas in large numbers, as indicated by this survey, this will further increase the tourism trade deficit which currently stands at £18Bn a year. Presented in isolation in this way the survey is misleading in that it fails to acknowledge the true damage to the UK economy that the increase in APD will cause,” concluded Dowd.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
