Controversial UK Flying Tax Hits Tourism

One of Thailand's leading long haul tourism markets the United Kingdom is anticipating sharp reductions in air travel with the controversial APT (Air Passenger Duty) surcharge. The latest increase of approximately THB 1,600 has now moved the cost to travel up to over THB 6,000 and by November of 2010 will rise over THB 9,000 per passenger. The scheme is currently being revisited with bands of charges depending on distance traveled, though for Asia including Thailand this will no doubt fall at the higher end of the scale.

At the recent travel show World Travel Mart (WTM) in London attendees who were polled by the organizer tallied in with over 52% of those responding said they would reduce overseas travel due to what many consider a highly onerous expense. While Germany and France has crawled out from the Global Financial Crises, the UK continues to be in recession mode and for many who would like to travel the added burden of the expense is simply enough to put them off overseas trips.