24/01/2006 (Agence Europe) - The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has called on the Austrian Presidency to withdraw taxing of aviation. In a press release, WTTC President Jean-Claude Baumgarten said that the airlines sector was “an important generator of income” especially for “the millions of small and medium-sized Travel and Tourism enterprises”. It also contributed to growth and employment targets in the Lisbon Strategy. “Aviation is a vital component of the Travel and Tourism industry” which was expected to have accounted for more than 24 million jobs and to have contributed more than 11% of its GDP in 2005, said Mr Baumgarten.