Not So Simple! : 7/2/2009
What some posters do not understand is that this tax is not at all comparable to BDS departure tax or security tax. BDS60.00 is not close to GBP170.00! It does not only affect poorer nations or speak to globalization, it is not as simple as that. The UK airlines, tour operators and travel agencies will have to increase the cost of their services and packages to almost the entire Caribbean, making the destination on the whole, unattractive. That is only from our side of the ocean. On the other side of the Atlantic, the major agencies or bodies responsible for the travel industry and airlines in the UK are also actively lobbying their Government as it means their livelihood in the first place. It also means the loss of revenue and jobs not only for our region, but even greater in the Britain and wider Europe! Other European nations, also those heavily dependent on tourism such as Greece and Spain, have already discarded this senseless proposal of an APD tax. It serves the UK no other purpose, but to be self destructive (or devour it ownself). It is not only our fight, the entire deck of cards, worth billions, is in danger of collapsing. On the other hand, we in Barbados, still have the option of opening or expanding on the continental markets. You will see an increase in tourists using those alternatives.

UK Govt response to e-petition on APD : 7/2/2009
Read the Government’s response Thank you for your e-petition. In the 2008 Pre-Budget Report, the Government stated it would not proceed with a per plane tax but would instead retain and reform the existing Air Passenger Duty (APD) regime. This decision recognises the need to ensure greater stability in tax policy at a time of economic uncertainty, while maintaining environmental objectives. In taking the decision to retain APD the Government has recognised that the environmental signals it provides could be improved. The responses to the consultation for the per plane tax highlighted signals could be enhanced by adding a greater number of distance bands, and almost every respondent agreed that an improved distance factor was important in an aviation tax. Ministers understand some countries will be disappointed with the new banding structure for APD, and that any banded tax structure will see some instances close to the threshold. However, there is a clear rationale that those travelling farther should pay higher rates of APD and, in general, a geographical banding structure provides for this. For APD purposes, the distance for each country is based on the distance between their capital and London. Basing the bands on distance to capital cities ensures the reformed APD remains administratively simple. Where existing systems allow, as with Russia, the Government has made the split between east and west. When APD was introduced there was only one rate of tax - the standard rate. The reduced rate was introduced for travel in the lowest class of travel only, which was and still is the class of travel taken by the majority of passengers. However it is described, if premium economy is not the lowest class of travel it attracts the standard (rather than the reduced) rate of APD, and whether or not an individual or a family decides to travel in premium economy is a matter of choice. Passengers from the UK regions who transit through another UK airport will not pay APD twice. There is an existing concession for connecting passengers. Under this concession a passenger possessing a connecting ticket is only charged APD once for their whole journey, irrespective of the number of flights they take, rather than for each individual stage. This concession is available for any airline to take advantage of; whether or not they choose to do so is a business decision. http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page19851

TAXING BLOW TO TOURISM : 6/30/2009
Well, well, well as if the UK didn't know that the caribbean relies on Tourism - after being "hurriedly" forced by them to sign the EPA and now this - they've taken the food right out of our mouths. INDEPENDENCE is just that when you don't rely on any country for anything ! How can we say we're an independent nation and rely on another nation for Tourism.

Taxing blow to tourism : 6/30/2009
Whilst i agree with the BHTA, when the airport authorities at Grantley Adam increased the departure by over 100% ($55 was $25)and also added a couple of other charges such as an airport facilitation fee ($3) and a airport security fee ($5), they did not have goverments from other countries complaining about these charges! maybe they should reduce these charges and as such keep the prices down to encourage people to still come to the island and spend that much needed foreign currency.

TAXING BLOW TO TOURISM : 6/30/2009
What makes me laugh is everyone is always looking to the UK like if they know it all. The country is all for themselves, always was and always will be. There goes our lifeline in one small swoop ! Now we're INDEPENDENT and cannot rely on the UK for Tourism either - So what's the next plan ?! Some of us could see this coming, Europe are not going to live off themselves, they're going to look elsewhere for investments and the poorer nations to live off. And how does this effect flight prices this end ?

If we wanted to act like Gonsales and Jagdeo now... : 6/30/2009
If we wanted to act like Gonsales and Jagdeo, we would immediately need to send out all kinds of loud boisterous global protest to Britain's right to change their tax system. Then we would need to say that we're going to push the issue at the next meeting of the U.N. and say that Brits should have the right to go wherever they want unhindered by British taxes. Actually, maybe I should not even joke and mention this as Jagdeo may actually start to yell and scream at the British Government now too.

taxing blow : 6/30/2009
Another Tax Grab , Deffo

TAXING BLOW TO TOURISM : 6/29/2009
There you go ! When it comes to other countries they look out for themselves, so much for trying to look after things from this end - everyone is for themselves "there's no way the average person can afford these prices.... This is globalisation. Live off the poorer nations.

New Tax : 6/29/2009
Sovereign nations do have a right to impose taxes as they choose, and the sovereign nations which are impacted by those taxes also have a right to protest them. As LFS Burnham may have noticed, if he had so chosen, there is no argument being made by Barbados as to the legality of the tax. The attempt to link Barbados' rightful response to this tax to the immigration debate, which is about legality, has more to do with the writer's desire to see Barbados' economy harmed than any logical argument about the tax. Such blind rage toward Barbados prevented any consideration of the fact that the entire Caribbean region is at risk because of the tax. As the saying goes; please put brain in gear before opening mouth.

A pitiful place : 6/29/2009
Barbados is going to lobby Britian to have a a tax that they (Britian) has implemented reconsidered. HUH!. Makes me PUFF! Doesn't this sound awkward, a little ridiculous and presumptious, even out of place? Why not try some different approach to attracting visitors. They must be other ways and incentives to draw on. Hotel rates for one are way too high. DUMB

Look For Other Markets : 6/29/2009
We need to be proactive and look for other destinations for airlift out of Europe! We have become too complacent in depending on tourism out of traditional European countries. They are other and more convenient transit routes out of and into continental Europe. Improve those services and maximise them to the fullest. We would benefit from more airlift and passengers out of Europe. To take it further, the region will see some destinations going into a higher tax band than the whole of the US eventhough the tax is supposed to be a form of "green tax". This to me is true discrimination, a wake up call and a slap in the face from this traditional destination. To those not to be directly affected by tourism, and to make it even more personal, our visiting friends and relatives will not be exempt.

: 6/29/2009
We need to be proactive and look for other destinations for airlift out of Europe! We have become too complacent in depending on tourism out of traditional European countries. They are other and more convenient transit routes out of and into continental Europe. Improve those services and maximise them to the fullest. We would benefit from more airlift and passengers out of Europe. To take it further, the region will see some destinations going into a higher tax band than the whole of the US eventhough the tax is supposed to be a form of "green tax". This to me is true discrimination, a wake up call and a slap in the face from this traditional destination. To those not to be directly affected by tourism, and to make it even more personal, our visiting friends and relatives will not be exempt.

UK Taxation : 6/29/2009
I live in the US and have not visited London since 2001 for the same reason. The taxes placed on tickets even from the US are too great. Since I've already been there, I now choose to vacation and visit other places. Thank God for choices.

New tax : 6/29/2009
Didn't I hear Prime Minister Thompson say that a sovereign nation has the right to implement laws in its country's best interest when referring to the Immigration policy? Maybe the Brits are trying to encourage domestic or regional tourism. As the old saying goes, "Today me, tomorrow you"