Tourism Minister Lobbies For Hotel Accommodation Tax To Be Increased

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Charles “Max” Fernandez, Minister of Tourism, has been lobbying for the government to impose a 1 percent increase on the Hotel Accommodation tax.

Fernandez believes this tax will be beneficial to the tourism industry.

The Hotel Accommodation tax may increase by 1 percent following the final approval of the Antigua and Barbuda Sales Tax Amendment Bill 2019.

Yesterday, the Bill which seeks to amend the Antigua and Barbuda Sales Tax Act 2006 was passed in the Lower House of Parliament.

“This 1 percent that is being introduced here today is as a result of the fact that we within the Ministry of Tourism have recognised the fact that there needs to be more done in terms of promotion. Tourism, of course, is growing and expanding but at the same time, so is the competition and to stay relevant we have to promote and market our destination,” he shared.

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8 COMMENTS

    • Byam you do realize that the hotels pay some 12.5% VAT while the rest of us pay 15%? Memory is when VAT was being implemented it was stated their figure will slowly equalize since they argued some bookings were already made and needed time to make the adjustment. Brethren that was over a decade ago, the increase should really be 2.5% not 1%

  2. Maybe if you, Max Fernandez, stopped all the high life travelling, much of which appears to be unnecessary and getting the taxpayers to bail out your cinema there might be just a tad more money to spend on promotion. ‘Stupid is as stupid does’ says go ahead and raise the cost at the hotels and forget about the fact that there are a long list of cheaper (and cleaner) destinations with beaches for tourists to visit and spend their hard earned dollars. Antigua looks like a ghetto…do something real for tourism and get out there yourself with your other workers and clean up and beautify the place…surely the minister/s with all the heavy equipment would be willing to donate same to actually do something positive for their country??

    • Boss the highest visitor arrivals in our history under this minister yet you still having a tantrum. Fact is the ABST for hotels were to be equalized , we were told over a decade ago. You argue the country is dirty, why don’t you advocate for person’s to take personal responsibility and clean up their surroundings. You tend to argue conservative values, why not do so now, axe to grind with Max? Max got a bail out according to you, yet they have lost the property. One thing for sure if such had happened to you, you would label it a bail out but see it for the liquidation it was

    • Can you imagine this stupidness the hotels dnt have much to offer besides BEACHES the pestilence they call vendors with EYE SORE stands…

      ANTIGUA ISNT THE ONLY CARIBBEAN ISLAND WITH BEACHES.

  3. So you want to increase the accommodation tax for the hotels, which doesn’t have much to offer the tourist that utilize them seasonally. Why don’t u push to have better roads in the country and running water to the hotel properties and try to offer much more than sun sea n sand then maybe then you can think about raising tax. #nomoretaxes

    • EXACTLY ….ALL these overpaid MP do is sit on their azzez and ponder how to flow more money into their pockets…

      The roads leading to JOLLY BEACH HERMITAGE ROYALTON is a dammmmm disgrace …please dnt even mek it rain its pure swamp.

      Look at the big mess at JOLLY BEACH b4that it was PINEAPPLE BEACH.
      THESE ARE PRIVATELY BOUGHT PROPERTIES with PUBLIC ACESS.

      WATCH THE ILLITERACY ….IF THEY SHUT DOWN where the hell are you going to “ply your trade” trade that everyone doing / selling?

      I want ALL the hoteliers leave and see what you ALL do.

      Sunshine & beaches is ALL.

  4. Instead of lobbying for more taxes …why NOT LOBBY FOR TOURISTS SAFETY ….TOURISTS ATTRACTIONS AFTER DEPLANNING/PORTING.

    Is beach alone you selling and the committee selling ?.

    Is taxes alone needs attention …

    Look at the big mess at JOLLY HARBOR & SUBSIDARIES ..DNT THINK FOR ONE SEC OTHER INVESTORS WONT PULL OUT …..

    What after this season most hoteliers leave ANTIGUA

    Look at the massive job losses we STAND TO LOSE

    ANTIGUA IS BECOMING A HOTEL & TOURISTS HEADACHE

    Fix that 1st.

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