Ryanair calls on PM to scrap tourist tax

Ryanair has called on Gordon Brown to scrap his £10 tourist tax as BAA March figures confirm the decline of passenger traffic to and from the UK.

Ryanair urged the Labour Government to follow the recent examples of Belgium and Holland which scrapped their tourist taxes to encourage tourism.

Ryanair warned that the BAA figures, which reported an 11% decline in March traffic, with 1 million fewer passengers, confirm that British tourism is collapsing due to the Government’s policy of taxing tourists. Ryanair confirmed that if the decline continues it will result in the loss of 12 million passengers and 12,000 jobs at UK airports this year.

Ryanair’s Stephen McNamara said:

“British passenger traffic has collapsed and Gordon Brown must reverse his £10 tourist tax to address the rapid loss of passenger traffic, the loss of billions in tourism revenues and taxes and the loss of thousands of jobs.

“The UK must look to Europe where Belgium and Holland have reversed their decision to tax tourists and are now welcoming them once more. Gordon Brown must encourage inward tourism growth by welcoming tourists - not taxing them”.