Free Wi-Fi at Airports as DHTA Condemns Proposal for Higher Airfare Taxes

Government announced free Wi-Fi at airports as DHTA condemns proposal for higher airfare taxes. Minister for Tourism, Robert Tonge, told officials of the Dominica Hotel and Tourism Association that there will be more flights coming into Dominica in the next weeks, and that free Wi-Fi access will soon become available to everyone at local airports.

As from October, Air Antilles will bring air passengers to Canefield and Douglas-Charles Airport. He said afternoon flights will also bring in people from Barbados after all logistics have been ironed out with LIAT. He also added that the government is trying to convince Silver/Seaborne Airlines to increase its flights from four to sever each week as well.

And then he identified areas where Wi-Fi access will be available and areas currently posing installation challenges.

“We have identified have 16 sites of which one or two have access challenges like Titou Gorge and Syndicate. The other sites should be up and running by the end of this month. At Mero and Purple Turtle Beaches, you will see Wi-Fi access from the Ministry of Tourism. We understand that our guests want to share their experiences,” Tonge reported.

Meanwhile, the executive vice-president of the DHTA, Kevin Francis, condemned the proposed hike to airfare taxes in the Caribbean. Francis quoted the CEO of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), Frank Comito, has saying any increment to airfare taxes will hurt the tourism industry immensely.

Francis and Comito said that raising air-travel fees will hurt government revenues and even impact negatively on travellers coming into the Caribbean.

“Taxing for additional revenue may have a reverse effect as tourists may choose not to travel to or within the Caribbean and instead select other destinations because of the high costs of ours,” the hospitality officials said. “In such a case, not only would governments see less tax revenue but local businesses would likely suffer.”

Comito also pointed out that “high upfront taxes also typically affect on-island spending by visitors who do come; they will either shorten their stay or spend less on activities, restaurants and attractions to offset the additional costs.”

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