TAIPEI: The tax revenue on airport departing passengers at Taiwan’s airports will rise to NT$500 (US$16) from the current NT$300 starting next April, the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) said Saturday. The increase in revenues will be used to improve airport facilities and promote tourism in the country, the CAA said.
The NT$300 airport tax has remained the same for the past 27 years, and raising the fee will bring Taiwan more in line with international standards, the CAA said Changi Airport in Singapore and Beijing Capital International Airport in China charge over NT$800 per passenger, while Narita Airport in Japan and Incheon International Airport in South Korea charge around NT$700.According to the CAA, Taiwan collected about NT$5.3 billion in airport tax revenues last year.
Sixty percent of that has been allocated to the country’s tourism development fund and the rest has gone to Taiwan’s four international airports — Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, Taipei Songshan Airport, Kaohsiung International Airport and Taichung Airport.
After the new policy kicks off, Taiwan is expected to collect nearly NT$9 billion in airport tax a year, and the previous 60-40 distribution ratio will become 50-50, the CAA said.