Cheap Flight
Deals Hit In 2008
Released
on: October 31, 2007, 1:38 pm
Press
Release Author: Michael Mahon
Industry:
Transportation
& Logistics
Press
Release Summary: Cheaper flights have enabled millions more families
to take a holiday in an overseas destination, and many European
coastal resorts have developed to cater for the increase in tourists.
The
cost of a flight is almost certain to rise in 2008 as governments
view the airlines as easy tax targets.
Press
Release Body: Cheap flights from low cost airlines operating out
of the UK and other European countries could be under threat as
the Conservative Party - once a campaigner and implementer of lower
taxes - has called for purchase tax to be introduced to domestic
flights.
The
tax would add up to 17.5 per cent on to the cost of a flight from
one British city to another, but while flights to the European mainland
and popular holiday islands such as Menorca aren't specifically
mentioned, one travel company believes the new policy will inevitably
lead to higher fares for flights not just within Britain, but elsewhere
too.
The
Tory policy review calls for the UK to be a leader
on green growth, noting that it was illogical for flights to attract
less tax than cars and trains, with David Cameron, the Tory
Party leader, saying that much of the report would be included
in their manifesto at the next British General Election,
which could be up to two years away, but at the time could have
been just weeks away as Prime Minister Gordon Brown
considered an early poll.
'It's
not so much that we're convinced the Tories will win the next election
and tax domestic flights', say the travel company, 'But by proposing
new taxes on flights it leads the door open to the Labour Party,
who are more likely to win, to use taxes on flights
as a revenue raiser with no opposition from the Tories who are traditionally
seen as the tax cutting party. We have no doubt that flights will
be taxed a lot more in 2008 because the Tories have now made it
a soft target for the British government of any political persuasion
and the Treasury when they prepare their annual budgets.'
Citing
Menorca as an example, the company points to the holiday industry
on the island being a major employer, and the Menorca
map changing over the years as new resorts have been built to
accommodate additional visitors.
'One
of the other aspects of the report that is a worry for the holiday
industry', continues the travel company, 'Is that new runways at
Stansted, Gatwick and Heathrow Airports are all ruled out - all
three airports serve London and the South-East of England. Any increased
demand for example for Menorca
holidays probably won't be able to be met without increased
capacity, inevitably leading to a consequence of higher prices overall.'
From
the environmental lobby the Green Party described the proposals
as 'fiddling around the edges when what is needed is urgent and
radical action', adding that the Tory eco-taxes would hit the poorest
in society hardest.
Menorca
Citing
Menorca as typical of the
areas that could be affected most by additional flight taxes, the
travel company takes the view that any downturn in visitor numbers
and the volume of bookings for holidays and hotels
in Menorca would hit an island that relies heavily on tourism.
The
Spanish island is currently served by three UK airlines that offer
scheduled flights, including one low cost carrier that offers cheap
flights to Menorca. But there are a high number of holiday companies
who offer chartered flights in the summer months, and these companies
have helped reduced prices for holidaymakers visiting the island.
Neighbouring island Majorca attracted most UK tourists for 2007,
beating off competition from low cost destinations in Eastern Europe,
and Menorca has also benefitted from an increase in visitor numbers.
Despite
their geographical closeness and being part of the same group of
islands, the Balearics, Menorca and Majorca attract a different
type of tourist from each other, and with Ibiza the third of the
islands each has its own appeal, and each her unique selling points
when compared to each other.
Ibiza
is known in Europe for her clubs and nightlife, with 18 to 30's
and their high disposable incomes preferring the island to quieter
Majorca and Menorca. A survey by the island's tourist board sprung
a surpise for many in the hotels and holidays industry with a report
showing of the three islands that Ibiza's visitors spent more on
their holidays than those in Majorca and on holiday in Menorca.
Majorca
is a favourite holiday island for both the British and Germans,
and as well as having a cosmopolitan feel to it offers both nightlife
for the young with luxury hotels and villa holidays for older visitors.
Plans are in place to build Spain's top luxury hotel on the island.
The
island of Menorca, also known as Minorca, is regarded as the quietest
of the three holiday islands, and family orientated, with tourists
just as likely to be taking a villa holiday with companies like
James Villas
as they are staying in a hotel or holiday apartment. The island
is at her best in May and September when the island's roads are
quiet and the but everyone is geared up for the season.
The
travel company who produce YourMenorca.net concludes that all three
islands would be affected detrimentally by any further increases
in taxes on flights, infrastructure improvements and new hotels
in Menorca planned for the future might have to be reconsidered
if the number of tourists visiting for a holiday comes down.
Web
Site: http://www.yourmenorca.net
Contact
Details: http://www.yourmenorca.net
Welbeck
House High Street Guildford GU1 3JF UK
44
1483 871 340
welbeck36@hotmail.com
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