Earlier this week, the Parliament of Uganda decided to impose a mandatory $10 (about Shs35,000) tax on every passenger flying out of the country.
The new tax known as “Tourism Development Levy” is among a number of recommendations put forward by Parliament’s Committee on Tourism, Trade and Industry in a recent report.
The main reason to why such a levy was proposed for implementation is that it’s sole purpose is for the general good of different sectors of the economy especially the private sector. Additionally, the levy will help support the tourism industry recover from the financial constraints brought about by the pandemic.
According to the ‘pay to fly’, as many have revered to the Tourism Development Levy, the collected income will be channeled to Post Bank Uganda and managed by the ministries of Finance and Tourism.
These ministries will then draft a management plan and procedures through which the money will be accessed by the targeted beneficiaries.
According to the the report, Seventy per cent of the total collections will be shared among members in the private tourism sector.
The legislators also want 20 per cent of the collections collected off every air ticket to be earmarked for marketing Uganda’s tourism sector.
The remaining 10 per cent will be channeled to the tax body, Uganda Revenue Authority (URA).
Parliament has also demanded that the Uganda Wildlife Authority ensures that tour operators in the private sector reduce charges that are imposed on tourists. A section of tour operators have also suggested that government scraps heavy taxes imposed on them.
About Guide2Uganda
Guide2Uganda (www.guide2uganda.ug) is the most comprehensive source of travel information about Uganda that exists on the web, with more content on its cities & towns, accommodation, attractions, events, museums and galleries than any other online guide that currently exists for Uganda; as well as being a dynamic travel news and events driven site with fresh content added daily.
According to WeFollow & Peer Index (that measure online influence), we are among the most influential online media organizations in Uganda. Guide2Uganda was also awarded ‘’Best Destination Website in Uganda’’ by Jumia Travel Uganda in the 2018 Africa Travel Awards.
Share your travel stories & photos with the world via email: info@guide2uganda.ug
