Scottish Travel Agents’ Association welcomes reduction in domestic air passenger duty (APD).
Joanne Dooey, President of The Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association (SPAA), the professional body for travel agents and the travel sector in Scotland says: “The reduction in domestic air passenger duty (APD) is to be welcomed, although it won’t come into effect until 2023.
“The increase in long haul APD which will come into effect at the same time won’t help Scotland’s economic recovery. It’s vital that businesses are able to trade globally from their Scottish bases.
“According to Transport Scotland international air connectivity is important to our nation’s economy and that as an organisation, it “promotes sustainable economic growth through helping to improve Scotland’s international air connections, providing enhanced access for business travellers and inbound tourists alike”. It also continues “to promote Scotland as a destination that can sustain more direct international air services and better links to international hub airports”.”
“As a small nation, Scotland needs its connectivity, so this planned increase is disappointing not only for the travel industry but for Scottish businesses.
“We hope that the tax raised by this increase will be ring fenced to support developments in sustainable fuels and other measures to move towards net zero.”
The SPAA, founded in 1921 is celebrating its centenary and is the world’s oldest organisation representing travel agents. It currently has 120 member companies, all their associated agencies across Scotland including many home workers, and 92 associate members across the travel and transport industry. www.spaa.org.
