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TOURIST TAX COMING LATER 2024?
#316050
03/20/2024 08:37 AM
03/20/2024 08:37 AM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,763 Ohio
ruralcarrier
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Posts: 17,763
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A very small article in the Daily Herald about an upcoming Tourist Tax. Anybody have any insight into it? As with many taxes imposed by any government, little information.
J.D.
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Re: TOURIST TAX COMING LATER 2024?
[Re: ruralcarrier]
#316051
03/20/2024 09:03 AM
03/20/2024 09:03 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,601 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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I did not see the story in the online edition. Looked at the full edition and it referred to the "much discussed" tourist tax. I don't know who has been discussing it, as this is the first I have heard of it. Whatever it is apparently is in the current budget as income, but from what I can tell, it has not been passed yet. The story says that it is to come into effect in the 2nd quarter of this year. One wonders how the thing would be collected, as like us, most people who are coming in by airplane in the second quarter have already purchased plane tickets.
Carol Hill
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Re: TOURIST TAX COMING LATER 2024?
[Re: ruralcarrier]
#316057
03/20/2024 09:14 AM
03/20/2024 09:14 AM
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,709 United States of America
bdeeley
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J.D., they have been talking about this for more than a year, but trying to keep out of much public discourse. I do not know how close they are to implementing this new tax but hopefully it follows a similar timeline to the rebuilding of the airport. Below is an article from a year ago about the travel tax. link to article about travel tax
Be Happy! Simply because you deserve to be. 😁
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Re: TOURIST TAX COMING LATER 2024?
[Re: bdeeley]
#316060
03/20/2024 09:33 AM
03/20/2024 09:33 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,601 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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bdeeley--thanks for the link. I do remember seeing something about how the hotel tax in Aruba is sky high, versus SXM, but see that story says most of that money does not to go the government, but to the marketing outfit. But I still don't see how it would work, unless it is tacked onto airplane tickets.
Carol Hill
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Re: TOURIST TAX COMING LATER 2024?
[Re: StMartinFan]
#316063
03/20/2024 09:44 AM
03/20/2024 09:44 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,601 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Yes, there used to be a departure tax that you had to pay at the airport. I think it was maybe $10 a person. And it did get rolled into the plane tickets.
Carol Hill
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Re: TOURIST TAX COMING LATER 2024?
[Re: ruralcarrier]
#316068
03/20/2024 10:08 AM
03/20/2024 10:08 AM
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,677 Brookfield, CT.
pat
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When we first visited in the very early seventies it was called a departure fee (tax?) and it was $2.00 pp and paid at the little window previously mentioned. Over the years the fee increased - last I recall I think it was $20.00 pp, and they incorporated it into the price of your plane ticket. Pretty much if you didn’t see it, it didn’t happen?
I wasn’t aware of any recent discussion about charging a tourism fee but I’m often not paying close attention these days. I do sincerely believe the island needs to tread lightly with this. People are becoming more and more disenchanted with our beloved island for so many reasons.
Between the nonsense happening with arrivals and departures currently at the airport; the games being paid over the fifteen percent restaurant add-on - is it a sc or is it a tip and what’s the difference?; and now a proposed new tourism tax it’s becoming less and less such an enchanted island. And I’m saying this after fifty consecutive years of visits. The islanders are still the friendliest people I’ve ever encountered in any of our island travels but the island these days? Not so much IMHO.
Last edited by pat; 03/20/2024 11:00 AM.
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them."
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Re: TOURIST TAX COMING LATER 2024?
[Re: bdeeley]
#316076
03/20/2024 11:13 AM
03/20/2024 11:13 AM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,763 Ohio
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J.D., they have been talking about this for more than a year, but trying to keep out of much public discourse. I do not know how close they are to implementing this new tax but hopefully it follows a similar timeline to the rebuilding of the airport. Below is an article from a year ago about the travel tax. link to article about travel taxGood one!
J.D.
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Re: TOURIST TAX COMING LATER 2024?
[Re: pat]
#316078
03/20/2024 11:19 AM
03/20/2024 11:19 AM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,763 Ohio
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pat,
The departure fee/tax is currently $42 per departing passenger. That is up from not too long ago as I initially thought it to be $39.
I will attach a screenshot of the taxes/fees from some random date on Delta from DAY to SXM and return. Note the airport "improvement" fee as well.
J.D.
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Re: TOURIST TAX COMING LATER 2024?
[Re: bdeeley]
#316088
03/20/2024 11:36 AM
03/20/2024 11:36 AM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,763 Ohio
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As recently as late November 2023 the departure tax was $39. I wonder if it went up the first the year? Let's try this again. Flights - Round Trip Currency CalculatorOpens In New Popup 1 passengerFlights $1,623.00 Taxes, Fees & Charges US Passenger Facility Charge $13.50 United States Passenger Civil Aviation Security Service Fee $11.20 US International Departure Tax $44.40 United States Immigration User Fee $7.00 United States Customs User Fee $6.97 Sint Maarten Airport Improvement Fee $12.50 Sint Maarten Airport Departure Tax SXM $42.00 Sint Maarten Passenger Screening Fee $12.73 United States APHIS Passenger Fee Passengers $3.83 Learn More About Taxes/Fees
J.D.
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Re: TOURIST TAX COMING LATER 2024?
[Re: SXMScubaman]
#316089
03/20/2024 11:38 AM
03/20/2024 11:38 AM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,763 Ohio
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Ohio
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I figure it will be some sort of entry fee, similar to the Dominican Republic.
J.D.
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Re: TOURIST TAX COMING LATER 2024?
[Re: GaKaye]
#316101
03/20/2024 12:52 PM
03/20/2024 12:52 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,601 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Posts: 83,601
Central Florida!
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Even SXM wouldn't be THAT stupid!! Especially now, with the clusterf*ck that arrivals are???????
Carol Hill
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Re: TOURIST TAX COMING LATER 2024?
[Re: GaKaye]
#316106
03/20/2024 03:24 PM
03/20/2024 03:24 PM
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,709 United States of America
bdeeley
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I agree 100%, that is just a stupid idea. 🤮🤮
The simplest way would be to have the airlines add it to their fee schedule, just like all the other fees they collect. The island would receive their tax without any impact on the arrival process for visitors.
Be Happy! Simply because you deserve to be. 😁
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