Tourism industry request government not to increase PMC

Tuesday, May 9, 2023

For travelling foreign countries, Australia charges one of the highest fees in the world and leaders related to the tourism industry are begging with the government to not increase it more in the budget for this week.

The Australian Federal of Travel Agents, the Tourism and Transport Forum and the Australian Airports Association have asserted that enhancing the passenger movement charge for Australia even more would risk destroying the tourism as it carries on a long revival from the pandemic.

In PMC, anybody who leaves Australia, be it a tourist or a local traveller, is taxed $60 per trip and passenger.

To their airfare, as extra charge is added by the Commonwealth, to support international passenger processing at their borders.

The industry leaders declare that they do not wish for the PMC to be eliminated totally, however, they don’t want it to get increased even more and are requesting for a commitment of five-year freeze on any huge charge. In 1978, the PMC was introduced at $10.

Margy Osmond, Tourism and Transport Forum CEO, said that the sector is fighting to recuperate from the effects of COVID, the levels of international tourism in Australia still haven’t revived, so any rise to the PMC would be a major delay. Margy said that without a five-year freeze, they are at a threat of losing jobs in their industry.

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