The government’s decision to cut Air Passenger Duty in Northern Ireland could be a positive sign for the Caribbean, according to Virgin Atlantic general manager for sales Paul Wait.
Virgin, along with the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, has been lobbying hard to get the level of tax to the Caribbean reduced.
It believes the Caribbean is the victim of an anomaly in the current banding regime which places flights to the region in a higher band than flights to the US.
Wait said the Chancellor’s annoucement on Tuesday that APD on direct long-haul flights from Northern Ireland will be cut to the same rate as short-haul flights shows the government is willing to take action.
He told Travel Weekly: “APD has made a huge difference (to the market to the Caribbean). People who travel out to the Caribbean to visit family and friends used to go three or four times a year. Now they go once or twice.
“Lobbying on APD to the Caribbean is a constant focus for us. In Northern Ireland they have realised it’s had an impact and they reduced it, so why not do it elsewhere?”
Despite the tax, Virgin has pledged to support the region and plans to add extra flights this winter to Barbados, Cuba, Tobago and Grenada.
The carrier will also increase the proportion of premium economy seats on its Caribbean services. Wait said he was working closely with tourist boards and hotels in the region to generate ideas to keep tourists coming.
“Everyone in the Caribbean is working very hard and is very aware of the challenges. We are in conversations with the tourists boards and we are asking them to come up with ideas on how we can support them.”