The Caribbean is calling the Air Passenger Duty (APD), paid by all travelers leaving Britain, unfair because of how the system is structured and tourism officials say it will damage the economies of Caribbean islands as less tourist will be able to afford travel to that region. An increase in the tax will go into effect on November 1, 2010.
Since the last increases in November 2009, and the introduction of the banding system, the number of British visitors to the Caribbean has fallen by 12 per cent, and to some islands by a quarter.  Cheapflights.co.uk, the flight-comparison website, this week reported a 23 per cent fall in searches for flights to Barbados between January and October, compared with the same period last year.
From Monday (November 1, 2010), the APD will increase by up to £30 (to £85) on long-haul flights in economy class, and by up to £60 (to £170) in other classes.
