Continued from page 56


following the changes. But she warned: “Businesses with large workforces on lower pay – in particular, the retail and hospitality sectors – will feel it more. Businesses will have to make difficult choices.” However, Tickel added: “The


government wants to create a more certain environment for business so set out a corporate tax roadmap. It will keep the 25% corporation tax rate, keep full expensing of capital allowances and R&D [research and development] rates and rebates, and consult on expanding the roadmap in 2025.” Deloitte UK chief economist


Ian Stewart described the tax rises as “exceptional” but noted that while they “fall overwhelmingly on the corporate sector, they will flow through to households ultimately”. Ryanair was quick to condemn


a rise in air passenger duty (APD), with chief executive Michael O’Leary denouncing it as “idiotic” and warning: “Ryanair will review its UK schedules and expects to cut capacity to/from UK airports by up to 10% in 2025.” In fact, the economy


rate of APD on short-haul international flights won’t rise next year but increase by £2 to £15 from April 2026 – the first increase in 14 years. The premium short-haul rate will rise next April by £2 to £28 and by another £4 to £32 in 2026. Long-haul rates will also rise


by £2 in economy and by £22 in premium next year, with further increases of £12 in economy and £28 or £29 in premium depending on the band in 2026. The annual tax take


from APD is forecast to rise by £2.5 billion by 2030.


Leaders in responsible tourism launch centre


Ian Taylor


Leaders of ‘responsible tourism’ launched the International Centre for Responsible Tourism (ICRT) Global in London on Monday, with founder Professor Harold Goodwin declaring “all tourism can be more responsible”. Goodwin, emeritus professor


and responsible tourism director at the Institute of Place Management at Manchester Metropolitan University, said “I’m driven crazy by talk of ecotourism” which he dismissed as “mostly marketing hype” and said the question for politicians is “do you want to use tourism or be used by tourism?” He suggested protests over


tourism in parts of Spain resulted from a “failure to take responsibility” and said: “It has almost gone out of fashion to talk about tourism as an extractive industry, but it is.” Goodwin suggested “you get


overtourism where people don’t accept


promote responsible tourism through training, awards and events. The centre will offer online


Professor Harold Goodwin


responsibility”, calling it “irresponsible travel” and insisted: “Responsible travel drives sustainability.” He emphasised the Responsible


Tourism Charter definition of 2022, “making better places for people to live in and better places for people to visit”, and said: “You would be amazed how many people get those the wrong way round.” ICRT Global chair Debbie Hindle


said the centre, set up as a non-profit organisation in September and formally launched this week, would act as “a hub to share knowledge” and


courses in responsible tourism from January along with study sessions with Professor Goodwin and is in discussions with universities to develop responsible tourism courses. Hindle said: “As an industry we


tend to overlook what academics study, because a lot of academic work is behind paywalls. We’re going to make a point of sharing responsible tourism papers openly.” EasyJet holidays chief operating


officer Matt Callaghan told the launch meeting: “Sustainable tourism is not just about reducing harms, it has to be about enhancing the places we visit.” Tim Williamson, joint managing


director of holiday company Responsible Travel, argued: “I’d love to think this is demand-led, but we know from Google search that isn’t true. We have to drive this. We have to create good holidays that are responsible.”


Ryanair blames delivery delays as profits fall 18%


Ryanair reported an 18% fall in half-year profits on Monday as Boeing aircraft delivery delays continued to hit the carrier’s network planning, but it still recorded a net profit of €1.79 billion for the six months to September. Passenger numbers rose 9% year


on year to 115 million, although Ryanair’s average fares fell by 7%


54 7 NOVEMBER 2024


in the peak summer quarter and by 10% in the six months from April. Chief executive Michael


O’Leary reported “a five million- plus passenger shortfall due to these delivery delays” and warned of a “high” risk of further delays. However, he insisted “we’re


capturing record share gains across most markets” and said: “Forward bookings suggest Q3 demand [for October to December] is strong and the decline in pricing appears to be moderating.” O’Leary blamed a squeeze


on consumer spending for the drop in fares, together with a


Michael O’Leary


fall in OTA bookings ahead of the summer as Ryanair worked on technology integrations with multiple OTAs following a raft of distribution deals. He said this triggered “more price stimulation than originally expected”.


travelweekly.co.uk


Shutterstock/Alexandros Michailidis


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