I agree with your comments, but still .... budget traveller or not, we are still travellers, and get considerable joy and pleasure out of Jamaica. And we go there to a foreign paradise, which is far more than most of our Jamaican friends get to do. I don't recall who said "one less fancy dinner". Well worth it. No big deal. So, it's going to the debt and not into the pockets or benefit directly to Jamaicans; it means that our Jamaican friends won't be taxed higher. We live in rich countries and travel to poorer ones like Jamaica. $20 a trip doesn't seem a big price to pay. Again, they could have gone after another % or 3 off the pay cheques of Jamaicans. While the taxes may increase to the point some of us go every 6 instead of every 3 months; or 9 instead of 6 ... consider how very blessed and lucky we are to do tht in the first place. Maybe they will increase them to the point that they will be priced out of my budget ... who knows. I will happily pay the price and thank God that I can go in the first place. Giving a little back, even if governmentally enforced, is part of the deal.

But then, I'm Canadian, and aside from weather griping, tax griping is our favorite passtime.

I don't feel done in by this, but happy to pay it and save some very dear friends from having a few dollars less on their paycheques. By Jamaica standards, we are all very very rich - this is not so unreasonable! There is a price for everything, even joy!