Riya Bhagwan 
[Photo: File]
The Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association has rejected Government’s claim that the tourism industry is using delaying tactics or risking sabotage of the Tourism Services Tax.
FHTA says its concerns are not about opposing support for Fiji Airways, but about how the new five percent tax is being applied to existing bookings.
The Association says visitors who booked and, in some cases, fully paid for their holidays before the tax was announced are now being asked to pay an additional charge.
Chief Executive Fantasha Lockington states that the issue is about consumer fairness and Government’s assurance during consultations.
Lockington adds that it had specifically sought an exemption for existing bookings during consultations.
She explains that an assurance was initially provided, but was later overturned in the final legislation and guidance.
She further reveals that the change is already affecting bookings, with at least one confirmed case of a multi-room group cancelling and rebooking elsewhere because of the additional charge.
Lockington says this could ultimately undermine Fiji Airways, which the tax is intended to support.
FHTA says it supports Fiji Airways and is not calling for the Tourism Services Tax to be scrapped.
Instead, it is calling for bookings made and paid for before the tax was announced to be exempt.
