Tourism industry leaders in Australia have united in opposing a
federal government move to increase passenger movement charge (PMC) -
the so-called “tourist tax” - from July 2024.
The current A$60 (US$40) tax on every airline passenger leaving
Australia will be increased by A$10, a hike that Tourism and Transport
Forum (TTF) chief executive Margy Osmond says will make it more
expensive for international tourists to come to Australia, “at a time
when we’re desperately trying to attract more visitors, with Australia’s
international tourism levels still below pre-Covid levels”.
Australian Federation of Travel Agents chief executive Dean Long said
that “now is not the time for additional taxes” as travel remains 30%
below pre-Covid levels.
A letter of protest sent to the government was also signed by Joel
Katz, managing director of Australasia Cruise Lines International
Association.
The letter claimed the increase in the PMC was “disheartening for our
sector that has suffered more than most during Covid, combined with
already one of the highest departure taxes in the world”.
The move by the federal government to lift the departure tax comes at
a time when the Victorian state government in Australia is considering a
move to tax landlords who let their properties out via short-term
rental platforms like Airbnb.