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HIT BY the negative effects of the United Kingdom's (UK) air passenger duty (APD) on the Caribbean tourism market, regional states are pushing for further negotiations with the UK for adjustments to the charge.

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett said Caribbean Community (CARICOM) heads have showed strong interest in the matter.

Bartlett said that while the meeting did not mandate any specific leadership position, "it certainly took full note of it and supported the initiative that we (Jamaica) have been pursuing".

He noted that CARICOM leaders had given a commitment to continue to press for the British to alleviate the pressure the APD was having on traffic into the Caribbean.

The tourism minister's comments came during an interview with the state news agency, the Jamaica Information Service.

Bartlett's response to the regional concern came against the background of an estimated 19 per cent fall-off in tourist arrivals from the UK last year, and implications for further decline this year. He said plans to further increase the APD by November this year made the developments even more grave.

The tourism minister said the Caribbean had taken note that there was uncertainty within the new administration in Britain about whether they would maintain the APD or move towards a per-plane duty application.