Expect to see more travellers from the UK hitting our shores, as a decrease in air taxes makes it a whole lot cheaper for travellers to visit Australia.
The UK government has introduced a new banding system on flights, which sees the previously divided bands on travellers flying over 4,000 miles united. This means they will pay the same amount of tax regardless of the distance.
For people travelling to destinations like the Caribbean, which were previously in Brand C, the tax has dropped from £85 ($144) per person to £71 ($120).
The reduced APD will help drive tourism from the UK.
This drop will see a family of four saving up to £56 ($95).
For those flying to Aus (or more than 6,000 miles) who were previously Band D will see taxes fall from £97 ($165) per person to £71 ($120).
That’s £104 ($177) for a family.
The government will also remove Air Passenger Duty (APD) fees for children under the age of 12 from 1 May this year and in 2016 it will be removed for all children under 16.
The drop will also help industry companies pushing travel to Australia.
While it’s good new for the tourism industry in Australia, the change will see taxes for flights between 2,000 and 4,000 miles (like the US) rise by £2 ($3.40) per person.
Although airlines and other industry members have welcomed the change, The Association of British Travel Agents’ CEO, Mark Tanzer is still pushing to see the tax banished all together.
Meanwhile travel companies promoting tourism to Aus from the UK will be able to promote the saving in their marketing efforts.
This week, STA Travel revealed it was teaming up with the NSW Government to drive younger travellers to visit Sydney and NSW’s regional areas.
The two-year push will focus on a number of markets, including the UK. Read on
Feature image: News Limited
Do you think the change will encourage more UK tourists to visit Aus?
