Press Releases
View All Press Releases| WTM | 02 Nov 2009 |
Increase In Flying Tax To Make Holidaymakers Think Twice. More than half of holidaymakers to review travel plans due to the increase in Air Passenger Duty
More than half of UK holidaymakers will slash their number of overseas holidays due to the increase in Air Passenger Duty, reveals a survey by leading travel industry exhibition World Travel Market.
A massive 52% of the 1,030 people polled, all of whom holidayed this summer, said they would reduce their overseas holidays due to November’s increase in Air Passenger Duty.
A staggering 13% said they would stop overseas holidaying all together due to the APD increase, which will see the tax increase by a minimum 10% this year before a further increase next November.
Younger holidaymakers are most likely reduce their holiday plans, with an incredible 60% and 53% of 16-24 and 25-40 year old people respectively stating the APD increase will have a negative impact on their flying habits.
In a separate poll of 459 of World Travel Market’s Meridian Club, made up of the industry’s senior buyers, almost two-thirds (65%) said they would also reduce their holidaying due to the increase in APD.
APD is being recalculated with the introduction of four bands, with passengers being charged according to how far they fly.
For example, a family of four flying economy class to Egypt – a popular year round destination for UK travellers – will see their APD increase by £20 to £100, rising to £120 next November.
Premium economy, business and first class holidaymakers to Australia will see their APD increase by a massive £30 to £110, rising to £170 in November 2010 – which will be more than double the current £80 tax.
World Travel Market Chairman Fiona Jeffery said: "The increases in APD could be a real concern to both the UK outbound travel industry. The World Travel Market survey of 2008 holidaymakers found that 13% would not go on holiday next year, with more than half reducing their flying because of the tax.
"APD was doubled in 2007 and will more than double again by November 2010, so it’s easy to understand why holidaymakers could be put off travelling abroad by the increases."
World Travel Market, the premier global event for the travel industry, takes place between Monday November 9 – Thursday November 12 2009.
-ends-
Notes to Editors:
Band A
(0 - 2000 miles from London)
Includes: Europe, Algeria, Greenland, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia
Economy cabins
Premium cabins
Currently
£10
£20
November 2009
£11
£22
November 2010
£12
£24
Band B
(2001-4000 miles)
Includes: Bermuda, Canada, Egypt, Gambia, Jordan, Oman, Russia (east of Urals), Syria, UAE, US
Economy cabins
Premium cabins
Currently
£40
£80
November 2009
£45
£90
November 2010
£60
£120
Band C
(4001-6000 miles)
Includes: Botswana, Brazil, Caribbean, China, India, Japan, Kenya, Maldives, Mauritius, Mexico, Seychelles, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand
Economy cabins
Premium cabins
Currently
£40
£80
November 2009
£50
£100
November 2010
£75
£150
Band D
(more than 6000 miles)
Includes: Argentina, Australia, Chile, Fiji, Indonesia, Malaysia, Peru, Singapore
Economy cabins
Premium cabins
Currently
£40
£80
November 2009
£55
£110
November 2010
£85
£170
About World Travel Market
World Travel Market, the premier global event for the travel industry, is the must-attend four-day business-to-business exhibition for the worldwide travel and tourism industry.
Almost 50,000 senior travel industry professionals, government ministers and international press, embark on London’s ExCeL Centre every November to network, negotiate and discover the latest industry opinion and trends at WTM.
WTM, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2009, is the event where the travel industry conducts and concludes its deals.
WTM is owned by the world’s leading events organiser Reed Exhibitions (RE), which organises a portfolio of other travel industry events including Arabian Travel Market and International Luxury Travel Market.
RE holds more than 500 events in 38 countries throughout Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific covering 47 industry sectors including aerospace & aviation, healthcare, manufacturing and sport & recreation.
In 2008 RE, part of the Reed Elsevier group, brought together more than six million industry professionals from around the world generating billions of dollars in business.
