UK Travel Policy Unfair to Jamaica, Says Minister

Jamaica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kenneth Baugh, expressed his concerns about the United Kingdom’s Transit Visa Policy and Air Passenger Duty (APD), in his contribution to the 2009/10 Sectoral Debate in Parliament on Wednesday.

Baugh told the House of Representatives that the transit visa policy will pose a significant impediment for Jamaicans traveling through the UK to other countries. “We strongly believe that for Jamaicans traveling as tourists, as students, businesspersons and officials, the policy presents serious hardships,” he said.

He also noted that for Jamaicans energized by the prospects of engaging in business links with Europe, under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between CARIFORUM and the European Union (EU), it removes commitments on services which are seen as vital components of the EPA.

In addition, the Foreign Affairs Minister made mention of the increase in the Air Passenger Duty (APD), which is purportedly an environmental tax on travel by air. The first increase of 25 percent will come into effect on November 1, 2009, to be followed by an increase of 87 percent on the same date in 2010.

Baugh explained that APD is seen by many as an “unreasonable assault” on Caribbean tourism, as destinations further from the UK than Jamaica are assigned lower rates. For example, a traveler to Hawaii or California, which are much further from London than Kingston, will pay a lower APD, he noted.

In February 2009, the CARICOM Caucus of High Commissioners in the UK met with representatives of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, to express the region’s concerns on the reclassification of the Caribbean into a more expensive band, he informed the House.

A number of Caribbean Prime Ministers have also written to the UK Prime Minister, to express concern about the effect this new taxation system will have on Caribbean tourism.