Nigerians travelling to the United Kingdom (UK), are to pay a staggering £1.139 billion (about N290.445 billion) cumulatively in taxes under a fresh regime of tax initiative to be introduced by the UK Government from April 1, 2013. This was part of the findings released in the World Travel Market (WTM) 2012, Industry Report at the ongoing WTM Conference in London, yesterday.

According to the report signed by the Chairman of WTM, Mrs Fiona Jeffery, the taxes, which is categorized under the UK’s Air Passenger Duty (APD), is possibly the most controversial and long running of all the taxes in the tourism industry. Nigeria is categorized under the Band B, which is a distance covering (2001-4001 miles) to the UK with each passenger paying about £134 in APD as against £130 paid for this year, an increase of £4.

According to recent statistics released by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), which put passenger traffic to the UK from Nigeria at 8.5 million passengers as against 7.5 million in 2010. APD was introduced in 1994 with a £5 rate for the UK/European Union and £10 elsewhere. Since then, it has seen several increases. In 2009, four geographical bands were introduced based on the distance from London to the capital city of the country concerned (with exception of the Russian Federation which is split east and west of the Urals).

By April 1 2012,APD was increased by double the rate of inflation and increases further in 2013 with APD expected to raise £3.9 billion by 2016-2017,compared to £2.7 billion 2011-2012.The latest increase means it has increased at 20 times the rate of inflation in the last seven years. With this trend, UK has the highest rate of air tax in the world, some 400 percent more than most EU countries. Fiona lamented that taxation remains high on the agenda of the travel and tourism industry as governments globally look to raise much-needed funds by hitting businesses and visitors with increased and new levies.

“It is arguably the industry’s biggest issue, with the last 12 months seeing a number of new taxes introduced or existing taxes increased even further. Six out of ten of the senior industry personnel polled say taxation is having the greatest negative impact on the tourism industry,” she regretted.

http://www.osundefender.org/?p=58583

Good One

Erm... How does this affect the price of TV & Radio tax in Lagos?!


_Seconded.

Of what benfit is dat to us

What of the reverse case?

How much of taxes do the English pay in taxes to the Government?

Just passing by

THIS IS JUST A CASE OF USING WHAT YOU HAVE TO GET WHAT YOU NEED

This post has been hidden

Poster didn't state whether this tax is targeted at Nigerians only.

Nonesense

@poster
This is remarkable indeed. But can somebody tell me the passenger traffic into Nigeria and how much domwe charge in similar taxes. I think we need that to complete the analysis.
Our colonial masters are smart people, but what about us (Nigeria)

Rip off Britain!! As usual, not surprised, awon ole...! But at least their country and society works.

I use this opportunity to say may the justice of the universe that is, catch up with and deal with all these useless politicians and leaders that don't allow this great country of Nigeria to work, from the local level to the national level. Ur portion of this inescapable justice be on you!

Tusky44: They beat Nigerian govt to it. This is a tax that should have been introduced by our govt to gain from the billions spent in the UK shops, supermarkets, and overpriced housing market.

At the exit port, travelers should be forced to pay like N50000 in "exit tax". Call it what you like but if you have money to throw in the UK, you can leave some behind for Nigeria. The trend should have been the reverse i.e. money from the UK to Nigeria and not this way.

three gbosa for you jare!

Tusky44: They beat Nigerian govt to it. This is a tax that should have been introduced by our govt to gain from the billions spent in the UK shops, supermarkets, and overpriced housing market.

At the exit port, travelers should be forced to pay like N50000 in "exit tax". Call it what you like but if you have money to throw in the UK, you can leave some behind for Nigeria. The trend should have been the reverse i.e. money from the UK to Nigeria and not this way.

Na bad belle dey worry you, do you think everyone travelling to UK do so for pleasure or shopping?

Okay.
I no dey ever go UK for anything again, ever.
They won't smell my African cash

Lol.
It's not their fault anyway.
I wonder what people see in the UK.

With Dubai round thé corner, duty-free, few visa restrictions, Don't see the need for the rush to the UK.

Quite a few products in the top shops are sourced from ..... yep, you guessed right.... China.

Only high end or luxury brands may not be as affected.

Time to let our feet do the "speaking".

.

Some of you dont bother to read the article before commenting.

1. Its a tax paid by all travellers to the UK
2. It is being increased by 4pounds. 1000 naira. Meaninng we already pay that tax and a 4 pound increase wont kill anyone.
3. It is generally more expensive to fly return to Nigeria to the UK, than vice versa, which means the Nigerian govt probably charges more tax the HM Goverment

oche_ejemb: Some of you dont bother to read the article before commenting.

1. Its a tax paid by all travellers to the UK
2. It is being increased by 4pounds. 1000 naira. Meaninng we already pay that tax and a 4 pound increase wont kill anyone.
3. It is generally more expensive to fly return to Nigeria to the UK, than vice versa, which means the Nigerian govt probably charges more tax the HM Goverment

thank you.Nigerians always claim ignorance the failed to read the OP statements very well B4comenting rubish as for that poster who said wetin we see for UK sef.I got the answer for U.Bad belle

Good for UK.

True, this guys are broke, using every alternatives to generate income.

There is nothing so bad or so good that you will not find Englishmen doing it; but you will never find an Englishman in the wrong. He does everything on principle. He fights you on patriotic principles; he robs you on business principles; he enslaves you on imperial principles; he bullies you on manly principles; he supports his king on loyal principles and cuts off his head on republican principles. George Bernard Shaw

For Allah created the English mad(man) The maddest of all mankind- Rudyard Kipling

Remember that you are an Englishman, and have consequently won first prize in the lottery of life.

- Cecil John Rhodes

No Englishman is ever fairly beaten.

- George Bernard Shaw

The English are a very practical people. They like expansion but they like it in connection with practical business.


Cecil Rhodes

You never find an Englishman among the under- dogsexcept in England, of course.

- Evelyn Arthur StJohn Waugh

The maxim of the British people is "business as usual"

sir winston churchill