The World Travel & Tourism Council has joined the UK travel industry in condemning the government for pushing ahead with a further rise in Air Passenger Duty from next April.
The decision by the Treasury as part of chancellor George Osborne’s Autumn Statement was described as “economically self-defeating”.
The WTTC cited research conducted by Oxford Economics earlier this year showing that removing APD would result in an additional 91,000 British jobs being created and £4.2 billion added to the economy in 12 months.
WTTC president and chief executive David Scowsill said: “Travel and tourism, of which aviation is the fundamental driver for the UK, generates 2.3 million jobs and contributes over $100 billion to the UK economy every year.
“While the UK chancellor’s statement stresses the need for the UK economy to find growth opportunities, he has chosen to further tax an industry that helps to sustain millions of jobs in the UK.
“This tax is damaging the economy at a crucial time, and is having a negative effect on trade with countries in the Caribbean, Africa and Asia.
“Rather than recognising the impact of APD on the overall economy and reducing Air Passenger Duty, the UK has opted to further harm the economy and prevent job creation.”