GBTA WELCOMES TICKET TAX FREEZE
The influential Guild of Business Travel Agents (GBTA) has applauded Gordon Brown's decision to freeze air passenger duty in this year's Budget.
The ticket tax, which already gives the Treasury an extra £1 billion a year, hits the frequent traveller - in other words the business traveller - hardest. The GBTA claims any increase would have done nothing to combat the environmental impact of air travel, merely made it even more expensive for British companies to do business.
“This is good news for the business traveller and for UK plc,” says Philip Carlisle, chief executive, of the GBTA whose members account for some 80% of business travel bookings in the UK. “Ideally we would like to see air passenger duty abolished, but in the meantime at least the Chancellor has listened to the industry and decided to leave taxation on air tickets alone.
"The contribution business travel makes to the UK economy is vital,” adds Carlisle. “The government should be encouraging people to travel on business so that they close that deal, sign that contract, get an order in, all of which will give a much needed boost to our own economy.”
For further information: Vanessa Aves/Steve Dunne, Brighter PR, Tel: 020 7603 2168, email: Vanessa.aves@brighterpr.co.uk