Dodoma: Tanzania has announced a security levy on air passengers, which takes effect on October 1.
Authorities said the levy is meant to help improve airport security installations and safety services including perimeter fences and scanning machines.
Tanzania Airports Authority director-general Richard Mayongela said foreign travellers boarding aircraft at major airports in the country will pay $5 while those on domestic flights will pay $2.
“The security levy is targeted at enhancing the development of airport infrastructure, and stabilising and strengthening the safety of our airports,” said Mr Mayongela.
However, airline executives say the new levy will make air transport in the country expensive, adding that several taxes and fees are already being charged.
They fear it may scare away potential customers.
The current departure tax for domestic flights is Tsh13,000 ($5.7) while international departure tax is Tsh112,101 ($49) per passenger.
Tourism is Tanzania’s leading foreign exchange earner and a key economic sector.
This surpassed earnings from gold, which brought in Tsh3 billion ($1.28 billion) in the same period.
Source: The East African
