Apenisa Waqairadovu 
The Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association says the confusion surrounding the new Tourism Services Tax could have been avoided if Government had listened to industry concerns.
FHTA Chief Executive Fantasha Lockington says the association raised concerns about the five percent tax months before it was gazetted.
She says the industry asked for holidays already booked and paid for to be exempted, but that was not included in the final legislation.
FHTA also requested more time between the release of tax guidelines and the September first implementation date.
Lockington says the guidelines were only finalised yesterday, leaving travel agents and tourism operators just days to adjust their booking and invoicing systems.
She says the issue has already caused concern in Fiji’s major tourism markets, with Australian and New Zealand travel agents questioning how the tax will be collected on existing bookings.
Lockington says the confusion could damage Fiji’s reputation as a well-managed tourism destination.
The five percent Tourism Services Tax takes effect on September first.
