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travel gives back news
Hundreds sign TTG ’s petition
against damaging hike in APD
Chris Gray.
travelling to destinations such as the Caribbean meets civil servants and ministers before APD
OVER 300 supporters have now backedTTG’s and Kenya will have to pay more tax than comes into force in the spring budget.
petition to the chancellor to make Air Passenger those going to the US, including Hawaii, even Louis Lewis, acting director of the St Lucia
Duty more fair by removing anomalies that hit though most US destinations are farther away. Tourist Board, said the proposals “will affect
developing economies. The industry also wants changes to stop our ability to survive, for people to earn a decent
More than 200 people, including key industry premium economy passengers having to pay living and for decent enterprise”.
figures, have signed our online Downing Street the same APD as those in business class, and Key UK industry figures who have signed up
petition and another 140 signed a copy at the passengers from the regions transiting through include Andy Cooper and Simon Bunce, Abta;
Caribbean Marketplace exhibition in St Lucia last UK having to pay twice. Shaun Hinds, Co-operative Travel Group; Ian
week, including prime ministers and tourism Abta is urging all its members to sign the Ackland, HotelConnect; Hugh Morgan, Cosmos;
ministers from the Caribbean. petition. Stewart Baird, Virgin Holidays; Adam Stewart,
Tourism ministers there are planning to write The association’s head of policy, David Sandals Resorts; and Michael Vinales, Avro.
to chancellor Alistair Darling calling for changes. Marshall, said their support was needed to It has also been backed by Stephenson King,
The campaign was launched to prompt “demonstrate to government that there is an St Lucia prime minister, and Ricky Skerritt,
changes to the distance bands used to calculate appetite for change”. St Kitts tourism minister.
APD to make them fairer. Marshall said the petition would be used to
If the tax becomes law as it is, passengers demonstrate the strength of feeling when Abta ■ Caribbean tourism fears big downturn, p10
How you can help: Sign our petition at http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/APDtax
Triton donations
There is an added incentive
for agents who make
Green charter
bookings during this period.
TRITON Rooms is to give 50p from every agent Every branch that makes
booking to the Red Nose Day appeal for a month. a booking will be entered
for Tui agents
The charity promotion launches on February into a prize draw to win
13 and all branches and members will be advised one of 15 places on an FIRST CHOICE and Thomson have introduced
via email about how to get involved. educational to Dubai. an environmental charter to heighten agents’
awareness of green issues at work.
The charter outlines simple but effective
measures agents can take to reduce carbon
emissions and conserve natural resources.
It concentrates on brochures and printing,
energy, and waste and recycling, and suggests
ideas such as emailing quotes to customers
rather than printing them in store.
Agents will be given environmental information
in team meetings to supplement the charter.
The companies will also introduce incentives
in the next few weeks to get as many agents
taking part as possible.
Kathryn Ward, retail director for Thomson and
First Choice, said: “By educating our colleagues
on how to be more environmentally responsible,
PLENTY TO SING ABOUT: Aphrodite Burton, from the Association of Women Travel we hope to build a team of environmental
Executives, and Ian Taplin of Rex Safaris, with choir members of St Mary Abbott advocates who can pass on their knowledge.”
School in Kensington, who were given gift vouchers last week after singing at AWTE’s
Christmas lunch, raising £10,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support ■ Learn more at travelgivesback.co.uk
30.01.2009 09
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