ASTA Applauds Louisiana Sales Tax Decision

The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) is celebrating a win in Louisiana this week.

Earlier this month, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry proposed a plan to overhaul the state’s tax structure by phasing out state income tax over time and replacing the revenue with sales taxes on previously exempt goods and services, including travel agency services.

ASTA quickly opposed the proposal, arguing that the tax would lower travel advisors’ overall income. The organization mobilized its members to flood the governor’s office and legislature with calls and emails.

On Monday, ASTA celebrated a victory when Louisiana’s special legislative session resulted in the passage of a new tax plan that excludes any new sales taxes on travel advisor services—a significant win for ASTA and its members in the Bayou State.

“Adding a sales tax to our services would have created an extra burden to doing business here in our state,” said Samantha Musso, president of the Greater New Orleans ASTA Chapter and owner of New Destinations Travel in Bush, Louisiana.

“We knew this would have resulted in serious financial consequences for both travel advisors and our clients, so we are pleased that this misguided sales tax did not come to fruition.”

It’s another big win for ASTA, which, in year years, has helped prevent the removal of tax exemptions in Nebraska and Kentucky. ASTA expects more state-level issues impacting travel advisors to pop up in the new year now that travel is exceeding post-pandemic levels.