The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) issued a statement calling upon the Austrian government to withdraw plans for raising funds through an international air travel tax. WTTC President Jean-Claude Baumgarten said air travel to, from and within European countries is an important generator of income, not only for governments and industry but also for the millions of small and medium sized travel and tourism businesses it supports, and that people should be encouraged to travel, not taxed for it. He also cited the increasing financial burden on airlines right now due to the high cost of jet fuel, saying an additional tax would add more financial pressure. WTTC is a trade group representing business leaders in travel and tourism.
