Antigua’s Tourism Minister Stands by Airport Charge

Antigua’s Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation John Maginley continues to defend the Airport Administration Charge in the face of criticism by stakeholders that its recent introduction could spell trouble for visitor arrivals to the country.

The minister contends that tourists will continue to come here once their expectations of travel are met. And while he admitted that the cost of regional travel is high, he challenged the suggestion that taxes account for 60 per cent of ticket costs.

The charge was implemented on November 1 at a cost of US $37.50 for each passenger arriving and departing though the V C Bird International Airport. The minister told the Big Issues program on Observer Radio on Sunday that the additional US$23 raised from each ticket will go towards upgrading the airport facility and ensuring it remains up to international standards.

The minister used as an example the Air Passenger Duty (APD) implemented by the British Government that, he said, has not caused a reduction in travel by UK nationals, though they are heading to other markets.

Caribbean governments, tourism stakeholders and major international airlines such as Virgin Atlantic have called for a review of the APD. Last week, Caricom Chairman Dr. Kenny Anthony said he was disappointed that the UK continues in "its discriminatory approach" to dealing with the tax.