High taxes and travel fees are putting tourists off visiting Britain, an industry expert has warned.
The UK is 'taking travel and tourism for granted' but will miss out on visitors due to the extra levies being charged, according to Julia Simpson.
The chief executive of the World Travel & Tourism Council added that the abolition of duty-free shopping for visitors – the so-called tourist tax – means travellers are flocking to rival destinations.
An increase in air passenger duty, new visa fees and the National Insurance hike for employers also threatened to undermine the sector, Ms Simpson warned.
She said: 'The UK is absolutely taking travel and tourism for granted. The Treasury is imposing layer upon layer of taxes on a sector that is bringing money into the UK and is not at all a burden.
