more than £200 in taxes before they even go on holiday.
“British tour operators have kept package-holiday prices lower than anywhere else in Europe. Our figures demonstrate that people are now having to dig deeper into their pockets (with all the added charges),” said Brackenbury.
The Government has been told by the European Union to introduce APDon the return leg of domestic flights but the chancellor has already said in a pre-budget statement that he will offset that by reducing charges for low-cost flights.
Members of the F-Air Passenger Duty for all campaign recently called on the chancellor to exempt children from the tax or reduce it to offset the burden on families. They also want a 20% reduction in the £10 charge on flights within the EU (Travel Weekly March 13).
In addition to hitting the home market, F-Air Passenger Duty for all chairman Richard Tobias said APD is making it difficult to attract overseas visitors, already a challenge due to the strength of the pound. “This is a sour note on which to leave the country,” he said.
Some 48 MPs have signed an Early-Day Motion recommending children are exempt from paying APD.
n See next week’s Travel Weekly for a full budget report.
AIR Passenger Duty campaigners have highlighted the steep increases in taxes on UKtravellers on the eve of the budget.
The group has lobbied chancellor Gordon Brown and fronted letter-writing campaigns to the Financial Times to draw attention to their plight.
Federation of Tour Operators chairman Martin Brackenbury pointed out Government charges on family holidays, including APD and passport fees, have increased nearly fivefold since 1994.
A family of four now pays more than £200 in taxes before they even go on holiday.
“British tour operators have kept package-holiday prices lower than anywhere else in Europe. Our figures demonstrate that people are now having to dig deeper into their pockets (with all the added charges),” said Brackenbury.
The Government has been told by the European Union to introduce APDon the return leg of domestic flights but the chancellor has already said in a pre-budget statement that he will offset that by reducing charges for low-cost flights.
Members of the F-Air Passenger Duty for all campaign recently called on the chancellor to exempt children from the tax or reduce it to offset the burden on families. They also want a 20% reduction in the £10 charge on flights within the EU (Travel Weekly March 13).
In addition to hitting the home market, F-Air Passenger Duty for all chairman Richard Tobias said APD is making it difficult to attract overseas visitors, already a challenge due to the strength of the pound. “This is a sour note on which to leave the country,” he said.
Some 48 MPs have signed an Early-Day Motion recommending children are exempt from paying APD.
n See next week’s Travel Weekly for a full budget report.