Govt 'must scrap £10 travel tax', airline urges

16/06/2009

The government should scrap its £10 tourist tax in order to promote the use of airports in the UK, it has been claimed.

According to budget carrier Ryanair, which operates flights from several travel hubs including Glasgow, Leeds-Bradford and Manchester, the tax could cause visitor numbers and tourism revenue to drop significantly over the coming year.

"The government must follow the example of their Belgian, Dutch, Greek and Spanish counterparts by immediately scrapping their stupid and regressive tourist tax in an effort to avoid any further devastation to tourism and jobs," Stephen McNamara of Ryanair commented.

Some 4.5 million fewer passengers used the UK's airports in the first five months of 2009, a fact the airline attributes to travel tax.

In other news, Continental Airlines has been voted best domestic airline by the readers of TravelAge West magazine.

Travel agents in western America awarded the accolade as part of the Reader's Choice Western Agent's Voice of Excellence awards.

This article was brought to you by Park and Go providers of Leeds-Bradford Airport Parking