A passenger departure tax being imposed by the UK government could further deter long-haul travel from that market say industry players.
The outbound tax has enraged various tourism stakeholders both based in the UK and in Southern Africa as it increases the cost of travel to the region considerably.
South African Minister of Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, has spoken out against the tax saying that he has called on the UK government to reconsider the contentious tax.
"This unilateral levy on departing passengers equates to a tax on tourism,” says van Schalkwyk. “It adds significantly to the cost of outbound travel from the UK to long haul destinations such as South Africa.”
“This tax hits developing country destinations hardest and we trust that the UK's internal review process will consider ways of preventing the creation of new trade barriers of this kind which only serve to undermine our best efforts to grow and develop our destination," van Schalkwyk furthered.
Jake Grieves-Cook, Managing Director of Gamewatchers Safaris based in Kenya, said that there are strong representations at present in the UK lobbying against the passenger departure tax adding that “an increase in costs is likely to deter some people from travelling.”
Do you think this tax will deter travel or will UK tourists still visit regardless? Let us know by leaving your comment below?
