Jamaica lobbies against APD

Prime Minister Golding and Tourism Minister Bartlett from Jamaica met MP Diane Abbott and members of parliament in an increased effort to lobby the British government about the increase in Air Passenger Duty (APD).




Minister Bartlett said that the increase in APD is unfair and undermines Jamaican and Caribbean tourism. During the meetings today, he argued that the proposed new structure of the APD, in which countries are placed in charging bands determined by the distance of their capital city from London, was discriminatory, in that it favoured large developed countries over smaller ones, which operate in the same highly competitive environment.

This week Minister Bartlett, accompanied by Director of Tourism for Jamaica, Mr John Lynch, is also due to meet with travel industry leaders including; Jim Forster, British Airways General Manager Regulatory & Government Affairs; Andy Cooper, Head of Business Development and Consumer Affairs ABTA & FTO, and Head of the World Travel & Tourism Council, Jean Claude Baumgarten to discuss the impact of the increase in APD on the travel industry. He will also meet with Conservative MP Greg Hands, known to have criticised the tax from its inception.

The increased tax is inherently unfair and not the least bit green, the Minister stated. The structure of APD as an environmental tax, suggests that the impact of a flight to Jamaica or Barbados is greater than one to Miami, Los Angeles or Honolulu. Why should Caribbean countries with relatively low emissions suffer the effects of an environmental tax, in favour of the worlds biggest polluter? he questioned.

According to the Tourism Minister, the changes will have a major effect on tourism to the Caribbean, thereby impacting the economies of the region and travel by members of the United Kingdom Caribbean Diaspora. The UK has a vibrant Caribbean community, many of whom visit friends and family in the region every year. This week, Minister Bartlett will meet with members of the Jamaican diaspora community to inspire them to lobby their MPs about the tax.

David Jessop, The Director of the Caribbean Council, welcomed Ministers Bartletts visit to the capital, he said: We need leaders such as Minister Bartlett to forge the way by lobbying the British government on APD. Change will not occur unless the Caribbean speaks with a united voice and we applaud the Ministers conviction and the passion with which he seeks to effect change.

The revised tax places long haul destinations like Jamaica in one of the highest bands, with economy class passengers facing a tax of £50 per ticket as of November 2009, and the amount increasing to £75 in 2010. The proposed tax for premium economy, business, and first class tickets, will be double this amount.

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