Morocco to levy tourist tax on flights

Morocco's cash-strapped government plans to levy a small tax on all flights out of the country, which would be used to promote it as a holiday destination, the tourism minister said today.
Parliament approved yesterday the plan for an aviation tax, which will come into force on April 1.
First class flights will be taxed 400 dirhams (USD 48) while a surcharge of 100 dirhams will be added to economy class tickets, Lahcen Haddad said.
The government expects to raise around 90 million euros a year initially, half of which is expected to fund the activities of the Moroccan national tourist office, with the rest to go to a social development fund.

The proceeds would allow Morocco to raise its profile in places like Brazil, China, the Gulf and West Africa, where interest in holidays to the country is growing, as well as in eastern Europe, the minister said.
The North African country received 10 million visitors last year, with the tourism business generating more than 5.4 billion euros in revenues, representing 8 per cent of GDP and employing some 500,000 people.