Airlines threaten not to collect tourism enhanceme

[evanovitch]

Airlines threaten not to collect tourism enhancement, civil aviation fees
2011-06-05 18:29:10 | (0 Comments)



The Board of Airline Representatives of Jamaica (BARJ) is considering stopping the collection of fees and taxes on airline tickets in protest against a proposed tax and fee increase for airline passengers.

In a strongly worded letter to tourism minister Ed Bartlett, under the signature of BARJ head, Tomlin Scarlett the group has objected to the imposition of the US$10 Tourism Fund Enhancement fee and a US$8 Civil Aviation Authority charge.

The letter was copied to Prime Minister, Bruce Golding; Finance Minister, Audley Shaw and Minister of Transport and Works, Mike Henry.

According to the BARJ, the fees are discriminatory. The group says there are other strategies the Government could explore to achieve the same objective.

<span style="font-weight: bold">The overall fees being proposed by the Government will increase the total departure fees and taxes to US$71.50, up from the current US$48.50.</span> The airlines’ refusal to collect fees will mean the Government will have to collect its own taxes from passengers departing the island.

[Magician]

Re: Airlines threaten not to collect tourism enhanceme

Another ridiculous government initiative.

This increase is to offset a discount in handling fees to corporate jets.
In order to attract more rich people and corporations to Jamaica, they lowered their fees. So now they have to increase common folk fees to pay for the rich people. Brilliant idea.

As a side note, BARJ's boycott of the fees, will mean we go back to the old system from 20 years ago where you go to a separate counter and pay the $75US in CASH, they give you a receipt, and THEN you go check in for your flight.