Holidaymakers are facing extra costs amounting to ‘hundreds of pounds’ due to unexplained green taxes, according to a statement by a travel chief. Garry Wilson, the CEO of EasyJet Holidays, raised concerns about how certain destinations have been implementing environmental charges. He highlighted the impact of these additional fees on family holidays abroad, warning that the lack of transparency regarding where the money raised is being invested in sustainability initiatives could deter travellers from booking their trips.
Popular vacation spots like Spain, Greece, and Tunisia have either implemented green taxes or are in the process of introducing them. In Greece, for example, families could be charged around €210 (£176) per week in taxes. Wilson expressed his frustration at the arbitrary introduction of multiple fees by destinations that had suffered financial losses due to travel restrictions during the pandemic. He emphasised the importance of establishing a clear connection between the revenue generated from these taxes and concrete sustainability projects.
During an interview at the annual convention of the travel trade organisation Abta in Greece, Wilson suggested that if the taxes were directly linked to initiatives like energy-saving measures in hotels, such as automatic systems to switch off air-conditioning and sockets in unoccupied rooms, it would be more understandable to holidaymakers. However, if the funds were simply pooled without a specific purpose, travellers might view it as a cash grab.
Wilson also noted a worrying trend of continuously rising taxes in the travel industry, raising concerns about the impact on demand. He called for a more thoughtful approach to implementing taxes, highlighting that the current lack of clarity could undermine consumer confidence and subsequently affect travel demand.
A survey conducted by Abta revealed that a significant portion of respondents believed it was the responsibility of travel companies, rather than individual travellers, to manage the environmental and local community impact of holidays. Concerns over preserving culture and heritage, managing waste and plastic pollution, and ensuring animal welfare were among the key issues highlighted by respondents.
Mark Tanzer, the CEO of Abta, stressed the importance of ensuring that any visitor charges introduced by destinations directly benefit the local community and residents. Without a clear demonstration of how these funds support the destination’s sustainability and local welfare efforts, such charges could simply add to the financial burden on consumers without effectively addressing vital tourism-related concerns.
The survey, which sampled 2,000 UK adults, was conducted by The Nursery Research and Planning between 24 July and 2 August. For more travel updates and advice, listeners can tune in to Simon Calder’s podcast for additional insights into the evolving landscape of travel amid environmental challenges.