AOA: support for tourism incompatible with highest flight taxes in Europe say airport operators
12-Aug-2010 Responding to the Prime Minister’s speech today on tourism, Ed Anderson, Chairman of the Airport Operators Association, said: “We welcome the Prime Minister’s recognition of the importance of tourism to the UK.
Almost 30 million people visited the UK last year and the vast majority of them arrived at our airports."
"The Prime Minister wants the UK to be one of the top five global tourism destinations. This ambition is less likely to be achieved with the UK's high taxes on aviation. High flight taxes are a barrier to tourism, making the UK a more expensive destination than our competitors.
"The aim is for Britain to increase its share of the Chinese tourism market from 0.5% to 2.5%. But From November this year the tax on a flight from the UK to China will rise to £85; up from £40 in 2007.
"The Prime Minister says that this will be a government that understands the huge potential of our tourism industry. These words should be matched with action.