The long-haul departure tax in the United Kingdom has been raised by 55% and this rise is now being picked up by the remaining nations in Europe.

People fear that the huge rise in the air-passenger departure tax by Britain is spreading fast all over Europe, and that it will create a big impact in New Zealand.

The increasing of the long-haul departure tax by 55% by the UK means that now if a family of four has to fly to New Zealand, they will necessarily have to pay an extra $710.

The Chief Executive of the Tourism Industry Association, Tim Cossar said that the rise is being attributed to an environment tax; however, the money is not being put to any environmental use.

He added that Germany has followed suit to the UK, and in the last 24 hours even Austria has added a similar tax increasing the total charge of a long-haul flight journey by about $120.

Cossar also says that though Austria isn't much of a big in-bound market for New Zealand, the problem lies in the principal and the fact that yet another European country has added the tax.