BARTLETT: Impact cannot be immediately transferred to market.
OPPOSITION SPOKESMAN on tourism, Ed Bartlett, has described the Government's new tax package on the tourist industry as a "cruel blow" to a sector now recovering from international shocks and trauma as a result of 9/11 and Hurricane Ivan.
In a news release yesterday, Mr. Bartlett said the increase of GCT from 6.25 per cent to 8.25 per cent or 30 per cent will cost the tourist US$7.25 per visit while the other tax increases will cost hoteliers and workers between US$500,000 and US$600,000 over the next 11 months.
The impact of the total tax package cannot be immediately transferred to the tourist as the marketing programme inclusive of product prices is already in the market place, said Mr. Bartlett.
The opposition spokesman has called on the Government to review "this onerous tax package which, when added to the extra US$10 head tax to be implemented later this year, will make the Jamaican tourism product amongst the highest taxed in the Caribbean and consequently less competitive".
