Duty threat to Scots tourism

PLANS to cut air passenger duty in Northern Ireland could cost Scotland’s tourism industry millions of pounds, the managing director of Edinburgh Airport has warned.

Jim O’Sullivan said the UK Government’s decision to reduce the tax on long-haul passengers departing from Belfast from next month will leave passengers flying to and from Scottish airports paying several times as much.

He said: “Scotland cannot afford to put any barriers to its links with the outside world. These barriers will not only stifle our competitiveness and ability to drive out economy from recession, but will also discourage visitors from coming to us.”