Call for Unfair Holiday Tax Air Passenger Duty to Be Scrapped
The TaxPayers' Alliance is today calling on the Government to abolish Air Passenger Duty. The campaign groups calls it "Britain's unfair holiday tax" and is launching a week-long campaign with a protest at Bristol Airport later today.
At today's planned protest at Bristol Airport, from noon until 1.30pm, Jonathan Isaby, TaxPayers' Alliance chief executive, is expected to say: "Britain's punitive taxes on flights, now the highest in the world, are an incredible burden on families who have saved up for a well-earned break in the sun.
"British businesses are constantly being told they need to export to get ahead in the so-called global race, but are stung with high taxes when trying to explore new markets. Air Passenger Duty is regressive, counter-productive and unfair – it's time to scrap it."
The TPA said that while reforms to the tax announced by the Chancellor in the Budget earlier this year were welcome, they were not sufficient.
According to the TPA, Air Passenger Duty adds £276 to a family's flights to Disneyland Florida, £340 to a Caribbean break, and £388 to the cost of a family flying out to Australia.
Meanwhile, another group, Cut Tourism VAT, is campaigning for the rate of tourism VAT to be brought into line with competitor destinations within the European Union in a bid to help tourism businesses.
The group says there are a limited number of areas where EU rules allow governments to implement reduced VATrates and in the case of tourism the UK is one of only four countries not to reduce the rate. This means British families or international visitors choosing British holidays pay almost three times as much VAT compared to a French or German break, and twice as much as one in Italy and Spain.
As a result, the group says, British tourism businesses are losing ground to European rivals in attracting domestic and international holidaymakers. The say cutting tourism VAT would help lower prices and allow businesses to increase investment.
Middle East visitors are some of the biggest shoppers during trips to the UK but the Chinese appear choosier, according to a survey.
The poll showed tourists from countries such as Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar are at, or near, the top of nationality tables for the most purchases of items such as clothes, shoes and toiletries.
But Chinese visitors appear to shun shops – failing to make it in to the most of the top positions in the tables published by the VisitBritain organization from Office for National Statistics data.
The French are among the overseas tourists most likely to buy food and drink but on average spend only £343 at UK outlets. This compares with Kuwaiti visitors who spend as much as £4,000, with those from Qatar spending £3,000. Unsurprisingly, most purchases are in London, but Scotland is popular for food and drink spending, while the South West of England sees a lot of book sales.
VisitBritain strategy director Patricia Yates said: "Britain offers a great shopping experience. We have wonderful shops whatever the price range, a unique sense of style and authentic British brands."
Source: Western Daily Press (UK)
