SCOTTISH tourism chiefs have hailed the cut in air passenger duty as a “hugely positive step” in the recovery of the travel and aviation sectors from the effects of the pandemic.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak slashed APD for travellers flying within the UK by half at today’s Budget, while increasing the rate for long-haul flights.
The Scottish Tourism Alliance said the move follows a long-running campaign by the industry “over many years”.
But the decision has been branded an “international embarrassment” by the Scottish Green Party with climate change front and centre of the agenda on the eve of the COP26 summit in Glasgow.
The STA also welcomed the changes to the alcohol duty regime which will mean a five per cent tax cut on draught beer and cider sold in pubs. Sunak said it represented the biggest cut to cider duty since 1923, and for the largest reduction in beer duty for 50 years.
STA boss Marc Crothall said: “The measures outlined by The Chancellor today will be welcomed across many sectors within Scotland’s tourism industry, particularly the move to cut APD on flights between UK airports; the STA has campaigned for the reduction in APD over many years and this marks a hugely positive step forward for the recovery of our travel and aviation sector.
“The simplification around alcohol duty and announcement of the new draught relief will give a much-needed boost to our hard-hit supply chain and hospitality sector.
“The move to implement a new one year 50 per cent discount on business rates for the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors across England, Wales and Northern Ireland offers encouragement that the Scottish Government may follow suit by extending the current business rates discount for the sector and again go further than the UK Government. “
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