PRESS RELEASES
APD INCREASE WILL HARM INBOUND EARNINGS
23/04/2009
UKinbound the trade association for inbound travel businesses has slammed the Chancellor's decision to persist with the planned increase for Air Passenger Duty and said the move will discourage overseas travellers from visiting Britain.
Mary Rance Chief Executive of UKinbound said:
"Inbound tourism has the potential to help bring the UK out of recession. Overseas visitors spent £16.4 billion here in 2008, and with the current exchange rates and the potential to attract even more tourists, that figure could be even higher in 2009.
"However, the move to increase APD, as well as the massive Visa costs levied against overseas visitors, will weaken our international competitiveness and deter travellers will from visiting the UK."
The changes will mean taxes on flights between the UK and Europe will rise by 10% to £11 in November 2009 and £12 in 2010. US travellers, the UK's main market for tourism, will see their taxes rise from £40 to £60 in 2010. For standard long haul visitors travelling over 6000 miles (including Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia, three key inbound markets), their taxes will rise from £40 to £85 in 2010. Business visitors will also be severely affected with taxes for travellers on any flights above economy rising to anything up to £170 from 2010.
A UK visa currently costs £67, compared to a Schengen area visa, which permits entry to 24 European countries and is charged at E60 (£53).
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For more information please contact:
Helen James, Communications Manager
0207 395 7500
helenjames@ukinbound.org
Notes to Editors
UKinbound was set up in 1977 and is the only trade association that represents the UK's export tourism businesses. For more information visit www.ukinbound.org
Inbound tourism generated £16.4 billion in export earning from 31.9 million international visitors to the UK in 2008 (ONS International Passenger Survey).
