Plane ticket tax ‘will hurt tourism’

THE proposed EU plane ticket tax of E10 would damage the Irish economy, according to the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF).

The tax on departures would hit the tourism industry, which employs 150,000 people and generated revenues of over E5 billion in 2004, the IHF said.

Fine Gael transport spokeswoman Olivia Mitchell said Finance Minister Brian Cowen should oppose the introduction of a voluntary tax on air travel in all EU countries.