Originally Posted by
point bonita lighthouse
I do agree with LuvAirFrance that the highest taxes seem to be in the very popular destinations where governments feel they have the most captive audiences.
Examples?
Originally Posted by
point bonita lighthouse
I started this thread because if there is no resistance from the travel community including the travel companies themselves these taxes will continue to accelerate because it is such an easy target.
Yup, and there is nothing we can do about it, IMO.
Originally Posted by
point bonita lighthouse
As members of a community that believes in the benefits of travel for young and old-- what they are doing is wrong. In this difficult economy it will result in more "staycations".The people who live and vote in these very high tax communities whose jobs depend on the travel industry better help their local officials understand the implication of these policies.
It isn't just local officials. Ask Congress what they were thinking when they added a $10 surcharge to the ETSA applications (and then DHS added a $4 processing fee on top of that). But politicians aren't going to get reelected by raising taxes that their residents pay rather than what visitors pay. Just like I have to pay $140 for a visa in Brazil and Argentina now because the US government hit up those countries' citizens with a similar fee. Travel is a great luxury that I enjoy immensely. I wish it were free. But given the choice between taxing a few visitors 8% or every local .5%, I know which is the right move. I also know that it means I personally will pay more over time. That's a small price to pay.