Tourism force grows against PMC

Tourism force grows against PMC
By admin


The tourism industry has used a Travel Today interview with tourism minister Martin Ferguson to help argue its case against increasing the Passenger Movement Charge as Qantas and the International Air Transport Association joined the fight to stop the proposed hike.

Melbourne, Cairns, Brisbane and Sydney Airports, Tourism NT, the Accommodation Association of Australia and the Australian Airports Association also lodged submissions with the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee, all objecting to the $8 rise.

Speaking to Travel Today in Shanghai last week, Ferguson defended the increase and claimed the industry had been well looked after over the past 12 months. It had benefitted from the seasonal workers program, a budget for catering training and the extension of holiday visa programs.

Appearing before the Committee, Tourism and Transport Forum managing director John Lee referred to the comments and branded them “administrative changes which come at little or no cost to government and have made little or no difference to tourism business”.

As reported by Travel Today on Friday, Lee also rejected comments by Ferguson that the PMC was “nowhere near as high” as departure taxes in the UK and Europe.

Qantas, meanwhile, told the Committee in a written submission that the tax was already a disproportionate and unnecessary burden.

“The timing of this increase is particularly unfortunate at a time when the Australian dollar is at an all time high, having a material impact on the attractiveness of Australia as a destination,” Qantas Head of Government and Policy, Euan Robertson wrote.

Qantas also said customs, immigration and quarantine should be paid for by “consolidated revenue and not through a user pays charge”.

Furthermore the $61 million Asia marketing fund should come from “broader government revenue”, the carrier said.

The International Air Tranpsort Association argued aviation security should be paid for by “general revenues” and not lumped on airlines and passengers. The PMC increase will cost 2,600 tourism jobs in the calendar year following the rise, IATA added.

However, the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism insisted the rise is unlikely to have any major impact on tourism despite admitting it was “high by global standards”.

The indexing of the PMC will also provide “certainty and reliability” regarding future increases, the Department said.

Latest News

  • Aviation

Low-cost Indian carrier SpiceJet continues to burn cash

It’s not just low-cost Australian carriers that are facing hardship. SpiceJet, India’s version of Bonza, recently announced a 72 per cent reduction in its net loss versus last year. But, despite this improvement, the airline has posted losses for six straight years. But it has secured board approval to raise up to INR 30 billion […]

  • Attractions

SAKA Museum recognised in TIME magazine’s World’s Greatest Places 2024

AYANA Resort Bali’s newly-opened cultural and events centre, SAKA Museum has been recognised in TIME magazine’s World’s Greatest Places list for 2024. Part of AYANA Bali’s resort destination, the museum integrates Bali’s rich history with state-of-the-art facilities, making it the centrepiece for the island’s spiritual and cultural heritage. TIME magazine’s inclusion of SAKA Museum in […]

  • Cruise

Silversea taps Barbara Biffi as senior vice president for global sales

Ultra-luxury and expedition cruise travel brand, Silverseas, has announced Barbara Biffi as its new senior vice president of global sales. Biffi joined the company in 2007, holding numerous positions and gaining a deep understanding of the brand, the preferences of its guests and its strategic goals, the company said. An Italian national with a wealth […]

  • Technology
  • Travel Agents

Amadeus welcomes FCM Travel as new reseller partner of Cytric Easy

Cytric Easy, the travel management tool embedded in Microsoft Teams, is to be integrated into FCM Travel portfolio. Amadeus and FCM Travel have extended their Cytric distribution agreement to include Cytric Easy. With this new agreement, global travel management company FCM Travel, becomes a reseller of the innovative travel management collaboration solution embedded into Microsoft […]