The T&T Coalition of Services Industries (TTCSI) joins with the Caribbean Community in its strong objection to the United Kingdom (UK) government’s plans to increase the air passenger departure tax (APD) on persons travelling to the Caribbean. “We view the APD as unnecessary and discriminatory. It is a particularly stinging slap in the face when one considers that the recently signed Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) is supposed to expand trade and result in developmental benefits for the Caribbean,” said TTCSI president Lawrence Placide in a statement.

“This tax will require UK tourists, already dealing with the effects of an economic slowdown, to pay more to come to the Caribbean. The fact that a family of four will have to pay as much as £400 more to come to the region (this will increase to as much as £600 in 2010), makes the magnitude of the impact quite clear. They will simply go elsewhere. The drop in arrivals will have a ripple effect through the rest of the economy,” the statement read. The TTCSI is an umbrella, non-governmental, business support organisation established to encourage the growth and development of the services sector.