UK FINALLY recognises unfair taxation of the Caribbean!

British Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, has announced a reduction in Air Passenger Duty (APD) for long haul visitors from the United Kingdom, though it will not be implemented until April 2015.

Heathrow's spectacular Terminal 5

(Heathrow remains the world busiest airport in 2014!)

The additional tax for passengers flying to or from from a United Kingdom airport, to the Caribbean, has long been criticised by Caribbean destinations on the basis that it is detrimental to tourism in the region, and inherently prejudices would-be Caribbean based travellers to the UK. Caribbean countries have further claimed that it is unfair, since the tax is calculated based on the location of a country’s capital, (a most unusual and dubious method!). 

The virtually incomprehensible system of calculation of the APD resulted in all sorts of strange distortions that disadvantaged many British Commonwealth countries, with significantly lower average incomes than their British counterparts, while simultaneously levelling substantially less tax on passengers travelling to the USA......in many cases even as far as Hawaii! 

With these taxes extending well pass the GBP100.00 (USD170.00) mark on even basic tickets, the APD blatantly put Britain's allies and historical associate in the Caribbean region at a significant economic disadvantage!

The Caribbean Tourism Organization has been rigorously lobbying for change since it was introduced in 2010. Its about time Britain took a little notice and started levelling the playing field!