One of the most consistent differences between countries throughout
the world is the discrepancy in the fees and taxes paid by air travelers
upon arrival or departure (and sometimes both). Every nation has a
different set of rules and regulations pertaining to air transit, which
creates a vast landscape of costs for travelers depending on origin and
destination. Many people book flights and wonder what are all the extra
taxes and fees we see listed. Sometimes these taxes and fees are worked
in to the initial price showing on a booking site but sometimes taxes
and fees are added in after, often leaving travelers scratching their
heads at the final price. This list examines the 9 countries with
consistently high expenses so you can be aware of what taxes and fees go
into the final cost you pay to fly.
9. Mexico – $25 USD
The numerous beaches, resorts, temples and ruins throughout Mexico
make it an incredibly popular tourist destination not just for North
Americans, but travelers from across the world. Busy airports in Mexico
City, Cancun, Guadalajara, Monterrey and Tijuana service millions of
visitors a year, all of whom pay a tax upon arrival. All non-Mexican
nationals must pay a $25 fee except those who have a permanent resident
status, or are just on a connecting flight.
Though it isn’t an extremely high fee, it is one that often irritates
confused tourists who are unaware of the charge when arriving; however,
it is hard to blame the Mexican government for the charge, as it
provides a steady income from the more than 20-million international
visitors per year, a number which looks set to continue to climb as the
tourism industry recovers from the slump seen during recent global
economic troubles.
8. Costa Rica – $28 USD
Much like Mexico, Costa Rica is another country that is renowned for
its beautiful beaches and resorts. The capital, San Jose, is home to the
second busiest airport in Central America, Juan Santamaria
International Airport, which sees nearly 4-million passengers per year.
Though Costa Rica has a number of great destinations, the country is not
among the most visited in the Americas. Air travelers to Costa Rica are
greeted with a $28 fee upon their arrival to the country.
Much like Mexico, the fee charged isn’t an exorbitant price, but can
be enough to frustrate visitors to the country who have already paid a
great deal of money for a trip. Though Costa Rica may not be a top
destination in the Americas, the economy is still heavily reliant on the
tourism industry. Given that, it is unsurprising that the government
would tax air travelers as a source of income.
7. Samoa – $30 USD
The small island of Samoa is a country that relies more on
agriculture than it does on tourism as a source of income for the
economy. That doesn’t stop the country from levying a $30 fee on all
travelers departing from the capital, Apia. Apia of course, is the home
of Faleolo International Airport, the only international airport in the
country.
Until more modern times, the airport could not accommodate jets
larger than a Boeing 737. Faleolo was initially built as a military base
in 1942, and has only recently started to become more open to
international travel. The tourism industry is an area that is being seen
as an area of opportunity for expansion in Samoa. Travelers can hope
the $30 fee is being budgeted back into the future plans for development
of the tourist sector, as the small nation looks to attract visitors.
6. Honduras – $37 USD
Unlike a number of other countries in Central and South America,
Honduras is more known for its exporting of coffee and bananas instead
of tourism like nearby Mexico and Costa Rica. That isn’t to say there
are no spots that appeal to tourists, as the country is home to ancient
Mayan ruins and coral reef near Bay Island. Those who do choose to visit
Honduras are required to pay a $37.50 fee for air travel.
Travelers should find some solace in the fact that the somewhat stiff
fee is also applied to native Hondurans as well, although at a slightly
cheaper $34 instead. The fee is perhaps in place due to the amount of
air travel in Honduras relative to its neighbors, as the country is home
to 4 of the top 15 busiest airports in Central America.
5. Austria – €35
A number of European countries have begun introducing taxes on air
travel, and in 2010 Austria initiated a departure tax. For travelers
moving within Europe, the tax is a minor fee. Those individuals who need
to fly outside of Europe on the other hand, are paying nearly $45 USD
for departure taxes.
The tourism industry is a major part of the Austrian economy and
accounts for close to 10% of the countries gross domestic product, and
saw some 24-million visitors in 2013. Though the departure tax benefits
the government by providing millions of dollars, there are a number of
critics in the country (specifically the airline business) who fear the
tax will push potential tourists to land in neighboring areas before
taking an alternative means of transportation into the country, thus
averting the hefty departure tax.
4. Germany – €42.18
The inspiration for Austria to go forward with its departure tax was
the creation of a similar tax created in Germany that begun in January
of 2011. Just like the model featured in Austria, the German departure
tax setup charges travelers heading between European countries the least
amount of money, with a slight increase for parts of Africa and the
Middle East, and up to nearly $53 USD for any other country.
In 2012, Germany ranked as the 7
th most popular tourist destination in the world (5
th
most popular in Europe) and saw slightly over 30-million visitors to
the country. Just as in Austria, critics of the German departure tax
cite it as an instance of a heavy-handed government money-generating
ploy. Though the tourism sector doesn’t seem to be suffering yet, the
opposition believes it will only hurt the country in the long term.
3. Australia – $55 AUD
Unlike a number of other countries on this list, the Australian
version of a departure tax is included into a traveler’s ticket price.
That is about the only positive (if that can be considered positive)
about the Australian Passenger Movement Charge. The fee hits visitors to
the country with a charge equivalent to about $45.25 USD when leaving.
Few countries have a fee higher than what travelers pay in Australia,
and tourism is a relatively important business in the Australian
economy. Sydney and Melbourne are popular destinations, as well as
Queensland, the Gold Coast and of course, the largest reef in the world,
the Great Barrier Reef and the most common idea associated with the
Australia: the outback. Because of the unique places of interest to
visit, it is unlikely the $55 Passenger Movement Charge will be
deterring potential tourists any time soon.
2. Fiji – $198.93 FJD
Fiji is one of the only countries with an outright cost higher than
Australia; Fiji instituted a 33% hike in its departure tax in 2013,
which saw the fee rise to just over $100 USD in 2014. Like many other
countries with departure taxes, the Fiji government cites obligations to
cleanliness of the natural environment as the reason for the increase
in cost to travelers.
Fiji is not a particularly common tourist destination. The country is
home to a number of natural resources and is considered to be a
developed economy in relation to its neighbors in the Pacific island
area. Though the island may be small, and the fees may be high, Nadi
International Airport saw more than 2-million visitors pass through its
doors. While tourism is not yet a main industry, Fiji is another country
that has identified this as an area of potential economic growth.
1. United States/United Kingdom – varying
While the departure taxes in the United States and United Kingdom are
not as high as the rest of the countries on this list, air travelers in
these countries pay a number of taxes on seemingly every aspect of
flight. Fees paid for baggage at an airport in the United States can
cost a traveler $100 on a budget airline. In the United Kingdom, the Air
Passenger duty can cost travelers flying outside of Europe well over
$200.
Both countries rank within the top 10 most visited in the world (United States, 1
st, United Kingdom, 8
th).
It is unlikely to see any changes to these fees as tourism to these two
global destinations are always going to remain steady, regardless of
fees put on travelers, as more than 90-million people combined visited
the two countries in 2013.
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