Campaigners opposed to the increasing Air Passenger Duty (APD) tax which is imposed on British travellers have called for research to be carried out into the potential damage to the economy it is causing, travelmole.com reports.
Members backing the Fair Tax on Flying campaign want to determine whether this tax - which the government claims is helping to reduce the country's debt - is actually benefiting or harming the UK economy. As such, they are urging the Treasury to carry out the appropriate research.
The Fair Tax on Flying campaign was launched last week, comprising leading industry players - trade bodies, airlines, airports and tour operators. Since its creation, 2,500 people have written to their MPs to complain about APD and it is hoped in total some 100,000 people will support the cause.
APD has increased by 360 per cent over the last seven years, dailymail.co.uk reports; adding a considerable amount to the overall cost of a holiday. Those who are treating themselves to a little luxury by travelling premium or first class - perhaps as a nice way to kick off the holiday of a lifetime to see the Northern Lights or attend the Venice Carnival - would pay twice the amount of APD than those in economy; hence the urgency for research and the registration of complaints.
Commenting on behalf of the campaign, Luke Polland of the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) said: "We understand the points raised by some MPs about the structural budget deficit in their responses to constituents, however, the very purpose of the campaign is to encourage the Treasury to undertake research to establish just how damaging APD is.
"There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that APD costs the UK economy more than it raises - which is clearly bad for reducing the deficit."
