Travel Trust Association members told to lobby MPs to fight green tax – 18 Dec 2006

The Travel Trust Association has urged members to lobby their MPs in a bid to fight off a green tax on the industry.

Director Todd Carpenter claimed it is “inevitable” the travel sector will be hit with a green tax on top of the doubling of Air Passenger Duty, announced by Chancellor Gordon Brown in this month’s pre-budget report.

From February short haul APD will increase to £10, with long haul at £40.

“Why the hell is the Treasury carrying out environmental impact reports if it’s not to introduce further taxes?” Carpenter said.

Carpenter added the industry must “kick up a stink” and make MPs aware of the damage further taxes on the travel industry would have on their constituencies.

The TTA is to draft a letter for all its members, branding the APD increase as a “disproportionate tax” as airline emissions are only 2% of overall emissions.

“The APD rise will raise an extra £900 million,” he said. “Travel companies will have to find this money despite having had the worst summer in 30 years.

“More than four million people have already booked to travel after February, which is £80 million worth that travel companies will have to pay.”

Carpenter added the extra APD money should be used for environmental or travel related issues instead of going into general Treasury coffers.

“The travel industry is a soft target,” he said. “If we stop flying tomorrow it would take China only six weeks to put out the same carbon emissions we do in a year.”

Carpenter also slammed ABTA, claiming the association’s decision to scrap financial protection meant the Government doesn’t trust the travel industry.

“For years ABTA has told the Government it protects consumers against failure,” he said. “However, now it doesn’t do what is says on the tin the Government doesn’t trust the industry as its standard-bearer as it’s not sure what the standard-bearer does.”