From todays Amigo..
(Other than the master plan Tourism 2008 that hopefully will be presented within one month, CTB is working on acquiring alternative income to jazz up the budget. One of these alternatives is a tourist-tax to be paid upon arrival. They hope to introduce this tax at the end of the year. What the amount is going to be, is not known yet.)

Now I realize this is being spearheaded by the Curacao Tourist Board but I believe they like bonaire also has a departure tax. I'd surmise if they adopt Bonaire would also. So we'd have an arrival tax was well as a departure tax (not counting the car rental tax, the hotel room tax and heaven knows what else).. Where and when does it end?

Will the cruise ship people have to pay this too?

Who said life was a cheap sport , if they do impose dual taxes why not a one time fee when you buy your ticket , i hate getting in line to be two bitted to death , it would hurt less to absorb it in my air ticket .

CTB is Curacao

I am just going to Bonaire the first time in May this year. When I found out about the departure tax, I said the same thing ... why didn't they just add that onto the airline ticket, since you've gotta leave eventually.

I realize that Walt. But if enacted in Curacao Bonaire may very well follow.

April, it's historical. They used to allow the incorporation into the airline ticket, but apparently the local ticket agent on Bonaire at the time was pocketing (or at least not handing over) the departure tax, so they ended up having the airport collect the departure tax directly.

It certainly would be more convenient to just have it in the price of the ticket like they do for flights to/from Curacao, but that would probably also prevent the airport from continuing to raise the departure tax with only a few weeks notice as they have now done twice, both times in mid-December for a January 1st deployment. Airlines don't act that fast on tax changes for itineraries, I think.

Jake

Oh, and the entry fee idea being floated in Curacao is not new. I had to pay $5 to get into Panama last August - a fee payable only by visitors.

Jake

that's interesting. been coming to bonaire since1986 so i believe this can happen. will make me sad but won't keep me from coming