Kantarcı makes a statement about ‘exit fee for traveling abroad’

TÜRSAB Eastern Black Sea Regional Director Volkan Kantarcı stated, ‘Considering that the exit fees have not been increased in the last two years, we can accept the increase in exit fees as normal, but of course, an increase of four or five times or ten times would not be normal or right.’ Kantarcı pointed out that only a few countries in the world charge exit fees from their citizens and mentioned that the exit fees have not been increased in the last two years. He noted that an increase in exit fees could be considered normal, saying, ‘We have been reading frequent news in the press and social media in recent days regarding the increase in exit fees. A few days ago, the Revenue Administration made a statement on the matter. The statement reminded that the exit fee must be paid based on the amounts in effect on the date of departure, and there were no statements regarding whether an increase would be made or not. It is widely discussed and evaluated that after the holiday, with the new tax package, additional and new taxes will be added to the increase in exit fees. When considering that the exit fees have not been increased in the last two years, we can accept the increase in exit fees as normal, but of course, an increase of four or five times or ten times would not be normal or right. There are only a few countries in the world that charge exit fees from their citizens. The practices in these countries are mostly different from ours. In Australia, an approximately $40 passenger movement charge is added to the plane ticket. The amount in Japan is about $6, and this amount is added to the plane ticket of each outbound passenger. In the UK, an additional fee added to plane tickets is based on the distance of flights as an air passenger duty. This amount is low for short distances and high for long distances. The practice in Germany is similar, with taxes added based on the flight distance. The exit fee practice, where the same fee is collected from everyone like in our country, exists in neighboring Iran, where Iranian citizens pay approximately $8 when traveling abroad.’
‘Changes and increases should be made at the beginning of the year without negatively affecting our citizens and the tourism sector.’ Kantarcı, who emphasized that changes and increases should be made at the beginning of the year, said, ‘When looking at global practices, I believe that similar changes should be made in our country. And especially, I think it is the biggest mistake in the implementation that those passing through land border crossings pay the same fee. There are people who make day trips or frequent crossings from the provinces and districts close to the Sarp Border Gate. There are our citizens who go on business trips to America or vacations to Bali, as well as those from Kemalpaşa or Hopa crossing to Batumi for a day with a thousand TL, they should not pay the same fee. This example is valid for all land border gates. For those traveling abroad by air, the fee can be added to the ticket price based on the distance or the cost of the plane ticket; for those traveling by road, there can be a fixed and reasonable fee. Many day trips and tours to Georgia depart from our region’s Sarp Border Gate, most of these tours include both the Eastern Black Sea and Georgia in the same tour program. There are tour packages to travel abroad from other land border gates. There are economic flight tour packages to neighboring visa-free countries. At a time when economic problems are increasing and obtaining a Schengen visa is becoming very difficult, it is observed that our citizens are turning to affordable tour packages to countries that do not require a visa. There are people who plan to go on holiday or travel abroad once a year, maybe every three to five years. A high increase could affect reservations and sales made before the season. Such changes and increases should definitely be made at the beginning of the year. We had experienced similar increases in museum and archaeological site entrance fees in the middle of the season in past years. Possible high increases aimed at increasing tax revenues should be planned in a way that will not have negative effects on our citizens and the tourism sector. I believe that the Chambers of Commerce and Industry, TOBB, Unions and organizations in the tourism sector will express their views to the relevant Ministries on the subject.’