[Politics] Airport Service Charge to Increase in Two Phases Starting September 1st; Revenue No Longer Equally Divided with Tourism Fund
RtiTalk 小編20d ago
The Ministry of Transportation announced today (4th) that in response to Taiwan's airport construction needs for the next 20 years, to enhance flight safety and service quality, while also considering tourism development, the airport service charge will be increased in two phases over two years starting September 1st. However, the proportion of revenue allocated to the Tourism Development Fund will also be simultaneously reduced. #RTI reporter Wu Li-chun reporting#
Han Zhen-hua, Director-General of the Ministry of Transportation's Department of Aviation, stated on the 4th that the airport service charge collected from departing passengers has remained unchanged at NT$500 since its adjustment in 2015, which is over 10 years. During this period, construction material prices and operating costs have continued to rise, making the airport service charge insufficient to cover the NT$600 billion required for airport construction and operations over the next 20 years. Furthermore, the fees charged to departing passengers in neighboring countries are higher than in Taiwan, such as Singapore Changi Airport at NT$1,597, Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok Airport at NT$1,434, Japan's Narita Airport at NT$1,239, and Thailand's Bangkok Airport at NT$1,187.
Therefore, Taiwan will also increase the airport service charge in two phases over two years starting September 1st, and the proportion of revenue allocated to the Tourism Development Fund will also be reduced in two phases simultaneously. Han Zhen-hua said: "(Original sound) The airport service charge will be adjusted in two phases. The first phase, from September 1st this year to August 31st, 2028 (Republic of China year 117), will be adjusted to NT$750; the second phase, from September 1st, 2028 (Republic of China year 117), will be adjusted to NT$1,000. Currently, the airport service charge for departing passengers is divided 50% to the airport and 50% to tourism. To meet the needs of airport construction and consider tourism development, we will adjust the allocation ratio in conjunction with the airport service charge adjustment. The ratio for the first phase will be adjusted to 60% for the airport and 40% for tourism, and the second phase will be adjusted to 65% for the airport and 35% for tourism."
In other words, passengers who book their tickets after September 1st this year will have to pay an additional NT$250 in airport service charges.
In addition, the "Transit Facilities Usage Fee" collected from foreign transit passengers in Taiwan since March last year will also be gradually increased from NT$500 to NT$750 and NT$1,000 over two years in two phases. With over 6.9 million transit passengers last year, the transit fee collected reached NT$1.7 billion. Coupled with the 4.06 million transit passengers at Taoyuan Airport in the first half of this year, a 10% increase compared to the first half of last year, revenue is expected to continue to rise.
Han Zhen-hua also estimated based on last year's 25.7 million departing passengers that after the airport service charge is raised to NT$750, the annual revenue will increase from NT$12.8 billion to NT$19.2 billion. If raised to NT$1,000, it could reach NT$25.6 billion. As for the revenue allocated to airports and tourism, it will change from NT$6.4 billion each last year to NT$11.5 billion (60%) for airports and NT$7.7 billion (40%) for tourism next year. Starting from 2029, airports will receive NT$16.6 billion (65%) and tourism will receive NT$9 billion (35%) from NT$25.6 billion. Of course, with the continuous increase in Taiwan's travel volume, future revenue will only be higher. (Editor: Song Wan-yuan)
Provided by the Ministry of Transportation
Source Link: https://www.rti.org.tw/news?uid=3&pid=224265
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