Ryanair calls for Ireland to follow Belgium’s lead on travel tax
10-Nov-2008 |
Airline Code [RYR]
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Tags :UK, Ryanair, travel tax
Ryanair called on the Irish Government to abandon its plans to introduce a EUR10 travel tax, which will severely impact Irish tourism, after the Belgian government abandoned plans for a similar tax amid fears of its impact in Belgium.
Ryanair said the very least the Irish government should do is review its proposed travel tax and alter the basis of the tax so that it is a percentage of the fare rather than a flat rate of tax. Ryanair once again underlined the importance that any proposed tax burden falls on those who can afford to pay it most.
Ryanair’s, Stephen McNamara, said
“It is obvious that the Belgian government listened to the concerns of the tourism and aviation industries on the impact this tax would have on tourism. Since the Irish government announced its €10 travel tax we have expressed our concerns on the impact it would have on Irish tourism especially on the tourism industries in the West. We are not asking the Irish government to follow the lead of their Belgian colleagues and abandoning this unfair travel tax. At a very minimum the government must consider how this tax can be more equitable and minimise the impact it will have on tourism in Ireland.
Today, we once again ask that any passenger tax should be on a percentage basis so that those who can afford to pay higher fares, pay a slightly higher rate of tax, but those paying the lowest fares, pay a more equitable rate of tax and not a €10 tax which in place like Shannon will equate to over a 100% rate of tax for large parts of the year”.
(c) Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation. Date posted: 10-Nov-08
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Ryanair calls for Ireland to follow Belgium’s lead on travel tax 
