News

Should Caribbean Governments Take a New Approach on Air Taxes?

By: Caribbean Journal Staff - July 5, 2013

Above: Grenada Prime Minister Keith Mitchell (UN Photo/Mark Garten)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Grenada Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell is calling for a “broader task force” to address problems of regional transport in the Caribbean, including the taxation of air tickets.

Mitchell, who addressed the CARICOM Heads of Government summit in Port of Spain this week, said a task force “must include a caucus of leaders of business in the region especially the transportation sector, the airlines and shipping lines, as well as the representatives of trade unions representing workers in the transportation sector.”

“Previous attempted debates on transportation have sometimes degenerated into name calling and blame— but as we sit here today, we will come to appreciate that this tactic has not served us well,” he said. “This summit may want to consider putting in place a broader task force on transportation that will deliver results within six months.”

Transportation has been one of the major issues on the agenda for this week’s summit.

“As governments, the time has also come for us to look at our approach to taxation on travel tickets,” he said. “We must appreciate, that in most instances the taxes are so much more than the basic cost of the tickets, thus driving up the cost of intra-regional travel.”

But Mitchell said that, with more travel options, government would see increased revenue regardless.

“We will in the end, increase revenue, even with lower fees, because of the increased volume,” he said.

Earlier this month, Mitchell suggested that government air taxes were “stifling the success” of Caribbean air carrier LIAT, in an address to the OECS Summit.

Popular Posts w punta cana

A New All-Inclusive W Hotel Is Opening This Year in Punta Cana 

The first-ever all-inclusive W Hotel in the Caribbean is opening this year in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Caribbean Journal has learned.  The hotel, part of a broad expansion for parent company Marriott International, is on the list of expected 2024 […]


Why Grenada Is a New Caribbean Luxury Hotspot

beach house silversands

From its world-renowned chocolate to its pristine beaches to a region-leading focus on sustainability, Grenada is as fascinating and unique as destination as you’ll find in the Caribbean.  But in the last few years, the lush Eastern Caribberan island has […]


5 Adults-Only Resorts to Visit Right Now in the Caribbean 

galley bay

Sometimes you just want that extra degree of serenity, of privacy, of seclusion. There is a reason, after all, that adults-only resorts are booming in popularity, particularly in the Caribbean: travelers want to know that when they arrive, they know […]


Related Posts nobu los cabos

Frontier Is Adding a New Nonstop Flight to Los Cabos 

It’s one of the most popular hotel destinations in Mexico: Los Cabos, which has seen a broad boom in recent years with the entry to market of brands like Nobu, Thompson, Marriott and Waldorf Astoria, among others.  That has led, […]


This Former Caribbean Rockefeller Resort Is for Sale

caribbean rockefeller resort

In 1986, Laurance Rockefeller, the founder of Rock Resorts, developed 27 acres of prime beachfront land into what was for decades one of the sought after places to stay in the Caribbean. Now, the four-star, 150-room resort is for sale, […]


Vote for the 2024 Caribbean Green Awards, from Green Energy to Sustainable Hotels

caribbean green

Hotels serving organic food grown by local farmers. Airports powered by large solar fields. Pristine coastlines protected by marine parks. Real estate developments fueled by clean energy. It’s an exciting time for the Green movement in the Caribbean, a region […]


SUBSCRIBE!

Sign up for Caribbean Journal's free newsletter for a daily dose of beaches, hotels, rum and the best Caribbean travel information on the net.


No. Thank You