Travellers leaving Guyana face new fee

After enjoying the festive season with family and friends in their homeland, thousands of Guyanese passengers were slapped with an increase in Departure Tax, named a Security Departure fee of GYD$1000 (USD$5.00), leaving Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) on January 1, 2017 when the measure went into effect.

According to the airport administration, all departing passengers must pay the Departure Security Fee, implemented by Finance Minister Winston Jordan who, in his budget speech had announced that the departure tax payable by persons leaving Guyana has remained unchanged for years, and is among the lowest in the world.

As such, Minister Jordan said the Guyana government travel tax that increased from $2,500 to $3,500 (USD$17.50) was put in place to enable airlines to collect and remit the tax to the Revenue Authority, thereby, “making for one less departure line at our airports,” and reducing the cost and administrative burden on the GRA. This, he added, would ensure consistency with international practices in the travel industry, according to a release.

The total departure tax is now GYD$5000, USD$25.00.