Hike in departure, phone taxes

[evanovitch]

'Departure tax still competitive'

'Departure tax still competitive'
Published: Tuesday | October 6, 2009


The Government is continuing to defend its decision to hike the departure tax despite howls of protest from the tourism and travel sectors.
Yesterday, Jamaica House argued that despite the increase, the departure tax of J$1,800 (approximately US$20) remains among the most competitive in Latin American and the Caribbean.

According to Jamaica House, suggestions in certain quarters were that, internationally, the tax was already being collected at US$20 but only US$11 was being paid to the country, based on the exchange rate.

"This 45 per cent loss of revenue can no longer be absorbed, especially under the tight financial times the country and Government now finds itself," Jamaica House said.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding had previously argued that the decision to increase the departure tax was taken as it was the easiest to apply and collect while it would also have the least impact on people's purchasing power.

According to the prime minister, the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service through the financial secretary was working with the entities involved to "iron out the challenges".

Loud criticisms

The Government has faced loud criticisms since last Wednesday when it announced the increase in departure tax to take effect less than 48 hours later.

Officials in the travel industry argued that they would need more time to make the required adjustments.

However, the finance ministry responded that tickets purchased before the October 1 implementation date would not attract the increased departure tax.

Tax comparison

Barbados US$27.50
Dom Republic US$20.00
Cayman Islands US$20.00
St Kitts US$20.00
St Lucia US$20.00
Panama US$20.00
Argentina US$29.00
Belize US$20.00
Brazil US$36.00
Guatemala US$30.00
Trinidad US$17.00
Jamaica US$20.00

[evanovitch]

Local travel agents deny withholding Departure Tax


The Jamaica Association of Travel Agents (JATA) is moving to disassociate its members from damning claims made by the Government regarding the collection of the Departure Tax.

The Government on Monday suggested that it may have been cheated out of its rightful share of revenue from the tax over the years.

A release from the Office of the Prime Minister, <span style="font-weight: bold">intimated that the Departure Tax was previously being collected at US$20 but remitted at the old rate of US$11.</span>
While carefully avoiding any mention of travel agencies, the statement said this 45% loss in revenue can no longer be absorbed, especially in the tight financial times facing the country.

Speaking with RJR News on Monday night President of JATA, Pamela Reese, said as far as she's aware local travel agents were not involved.

&quot;No I was not aware of that, not at all. In Jamaica, Jamaican travel agents would collect $1,000 and remit $1,000 to the government,&quot; Ms. Reese said.

The Departure Tax was increased from $1,000 to $1,800 last week.

[Nylah]

Re: Local travel agents deny withholding Departure Tax



what are thet saying? is the lost in revenue due to the depreciaiton in the exchange rate or are they implying the local agents were pocketing the difference? Just a lot of inference in the article......

[evanovitch]

Tourism taking a hit - Visitor spending down, occupancy at 4

Tourism taking a hit - Visitor spending down, occupancy at 40 per cent
Published: Wednesday | October 7, 2009


Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer

Cummings

WESTERN BUREAU:

Visitor spending is at an all-time low and occupancy levels are now at 40 per cent across the board, says president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), Wayne Cummings.

Jamaica's robust tourist industry has taken a U-turn, causing the JHTA president to describe the fall season as just that.

&quot;This fall has fallen, the chicken has come home to roost in many ways and we are not seeing the business at all,&quot; Cummings said yesterday.

His comments were cemented by area chair of the JHTA Negril Chapter, Evelyn Smith, who revealed that occupancy levels in the 'Capital of Casual' were at 30 per cent, with some resorts reporting 10 and 15 per cent bookings, and unable to close their doors.

Staff rotations

However, many of them have started staff rotations with the hope that the winter season will be their saving grace.

It is not unusual for September and October, tagged 'shoulder months', to be slower than the others in relation to the island's tourism sector, but both Cummings and Smith concur that this same time last year the country was doing much better.

&quot;Even though the world was on the decline, Jamaica was doing well with its arrivals into the hotels,&quot; argued Cummings. <span style="font-weight: bold">He said the island was just now feeling the pinch of the recession.</span>
And this is evident in the closure of two hotels so far, the 320-room Iberostar Rose Hall and Sandals Inn in Montego Bay. Sandals Whitehouse, closed its doors earlier this year.

A number of duty-free merchants are also facing closure, as their businesses have nosedived, taking a 70 per cent hit in the process, while shops located in the hotels are reporting serious drops in business. So are the attractions.

The turn comes at a time when Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett is reporting a 3.4 per growth in arrivals into the Sangster International Airport, but the JHTA president said many of the travellers coming in are not necessarily tourists.

Familiarisation trips

&quot;A large number of returning residents visiting their families and droves of travel agents who have been coming in on familiarisation trips are part of the statistics,&quot; he noted.

Stating that he was extremely concerned about the situation, particularly for the winter, Cummings, however, admitted that he was not disillusioned &quot;because we have done the work that we are supposed to, both private and public sector, in terms of advertising and marketing&quot;.

He added: &quot;Air seats have been secured, and the JTB's destination marketing goes back on the air next week, while the private sector was on the road working with tour operators and travel agencies this past month&quot;.

[email protected]

[evanovitch]

Iberostar employees called to mass meeting

Iberostar employees called to mass meeting
Wednesday, 07 October 2009
A mass meeting is to be held at the entrance of the <span style="font-weight: bold">Rose Hall Beach Hotel </span>in St. James on Wednesday morning as nearly 400 workers who are slated to lose their jobs will gather to decide their next move.

The meeting, which is scheduled to begin at 10 o'clock, has been called by the University and Allied Workers Union (UAWU).
<span style="font-weight: bold">
The workers were expected to be sent home last Friday but the exercise was reportedly delayed until Wednesday.</span>

The union has been urging the management of the Iberostar owned property to put the job cuts on hold.

However, UAWU Vice President, Clifton Grant, says the plea has fallen on deaf ears.

&quot;We had wrote to the management and said to the management to suspend the issuing of termination letters and allow the Ministry of Labour to continue the process. The last meeting that we met the management agreed to continue discussions at the ministry level. They have decided against that and we saw that as disrespectful to the ministry therefore we are going to update the workers of what we are doing,&quot; Mr. Grant said.

The union and the hotel's management have been at odds since August, when it was announced that there will be a temporary closure of the hotel due to low occupancy.

[towngyal]

Re: Iberostar employees called to mass meeting

thats terrible news, so many people need those jobs to feed families.

[Marilyn]

Re: Tax muddle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: evanovitch</div><div class="ubbcode-body">di reason people go to Ja an been going to Ja will neva be deterre by a measly departure tax...now if all n sundry pay dem fair share in di fuss place not to mention di powers use it fi do weh dem suppose to do, we wudden be in dis position

but peeps been going to Ja an will continue going...as one group fall off anodda find wat it is dem looking fah dere....

an even wen di coral dead whe n di white sand wash whe, di weed wi still bring dem n di bamboo too </div></div>

Someone really ought to stop perpetuating that lie....not all bamboo in Jamaica BIG

[remo]

Re: Tax muddle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Marilyn</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: evanovitch</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> </div></div>

Someone really ought to stop perpetuating that lie....not all bamboo in Jamaica BIG </div></div>

Is how you know dis?

[Marilyn]

Re: Tax muddle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: remo</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Marilyn</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: evanovitch</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> </div></div>

Someone really ought to stop perpetuating that lie....not all bamboo in Jamaica BIG </div></div>

Is how you know dis? </div></div>

no secret I've seen a couple...rest of them you can feel in close encouters of the same kind at the dancehall....trust me, not alla yall all that.

[remo]

Re: Tax muddle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Marilyn</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: remo</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Marilyn</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: evanovitch</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> </div></div>

Someone really ought to stop perpetuating that lie....not all bamboo in Jamaica BIG </div></div>

Is how you know dis? </div></div>

no secret I've seen a couple...rest of them you can feel in close encouters of the same kind at the dancehall....trust me, not alla yall all that. </div></div>

Dats good for a minute or two I thought you were going to tell me you sampled all of them

[Marilyn]

Re: Tax muddle

Wow every one in Jamaica??? You're giving me too much credit aren't you???