Tourism Minister joins Caribbean Tourism Organisation in condemning UK's passenger duty (APD) system

St. George’s, December 7th 2011:  The UK government is not acting in a manner that reflects the understanding and historic ties that exist between the Britain and the Caribbean, a Grenada government minister has said.

 The charge by Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister, Peter David, followed a UK announcement that it will continue with the planned Air Passenger Duty (APD) system.

Grenada and other Caribbean countries have been lobbying heavily against the APD, saying the additional charge on travel to the region would drive tourists away from visiting the Caribbean.

But in a 26-page document released Tuesday, the British government said that APD rates to Caribbean destinations will continue to be considerably higher than those to some competitor destinations.

The British move met with immediate condemnation from member-states of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO), including Grenada.

 “The APD is not only negative, it is also discriminatory,’’ Minister David said. “How can they impose the same measure for both the Caribbean and the US?’’

David expressed disappointment that the UK refused to listen to the pleas of not only regional governments, but also the CTO and the private sector in the region.

In addition, Caribbean nationals in the United Kingdom have consistently sought to raise the issue of the APD at all levels of the British government and with the UK parliament.

David promised that the campaign against the APD will continue.

“We, at the tourism level, will continue to press with the issue. They have not listened and rather than helped, the UK government is taking decisions that can severely affect our regional economies,’’ Minister David said.