India And Australia Agree That Carbon Taxes Would Hit Tourism

by Mary Swire, Tax-News.com, Hong Kong

10 November 2008

Australia's and India's respective tourism ministers agreed on Thursday that carbon taxes would not be good for the tourist industry.

This consensus emerged during a meeting between Australia's Minister for Resources and Tourism, Martin Ferguson and India's Minister of Tourism and Culture, Ambika Soni, where they discussed a range of factors affecting the tourist trade in their countries, including taxes.

According to a statement by the Indian government, during the meeting, Ferguson pointed out that punishing the aviation industry with carbon taxes would also have negative effect on the tourism industries of both countries, a view with which Soni agreed.

During their hour long meeting in India, both leaders discussed matters relating to bilateral cooperation in the tourism sector.

Referring to the MOU signed between the two countries, both leaders felt that India and Australia are important tourism markets for each other.

Ferguson stressed the need for closer contact between the two countries in the tourism sector, stating that both countries can increase connectivity by having more direct flights between India and Australia.

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