England to let mayors impose nightly tourist tax on hotels and Airbnbs

newsSep 10, 202621213

The government will give mayors in England the power to introduce an Overnight Visitor Levy on tourists, allowing local leaders to set an uncapped charge as a percentage of the cost of hotels, bed and breakfasts and other accommodation rather than a flat fee. Ministers say details will follow after Housing Secretary Angela Rayner meets mayors at No 10 North and that mayors would decide how any revenue is reinvested, with local leaders required to explain by March 2028 how they will spend the proceeds. The proposal, first raised in November, mirrors schemes in Scotland and many European cities and follows voluntary local schemes such as Manchester’s £1 per room per night and Liverpool’s £2 nightly charge. UKHospitality warned the measure could put jobs at risk and estimated it might add about £100 to £120 to the cost of an average family holiday in England if mayors use the lack of an upper limit aggressively. Ministers argue that using a percentage rather than a flat fee protects budget holidays and that mayors are unlikely to set very high rates; supporters including Mayor of London Sadiq Khan say the power is needed for devolution and local growth. Opponents such as Westminster leader Paul Swaddle warned local businesses and residents could see no benefit if revenue is not shared with councils. The next concrete steps are the government’s detailed announcement after the No 10 North meeting and the requirement for mayors to publish spending plans by March 2028.

Danny Palmer

@dannypalmer.bsky.social

Genuinely has anyone ever decided against booking a holiday to a city because a 'tourist tax' at the hotel has added an extra tenner or so across the week to something that already cost hundreds of pounds anyway? Because, you know, I suspect it's unlikely...

3730d ago

Peter Brommer1

No, for 2 reasons. Firstly, I'm usually blissfully unaware of such taxes until I'm asked to pay at check-in (whenever I've consciously encountered it, it wasn't charged with the booking). Secondly, even if I was aware, it's small fry that usually doesn't impact my decision making.

Marie Gardiner1

No, but I don't think it should apply to residents of that country. We surely want to encourage people to holiday at home when possible/desirable, and we already pay our taxes here.

Andy Scollick

@andyscollick.bsky.social

Ireland is plagued by tourism. Tourists are welcome. But they are not welcome to push up our prices, buy all our housing stock and generally live like lords whilst we live like peasants. Tax them. Tax them hard. And block them from purchasing ALL property. #Ireland #Speirgorm #HousingCrisis

3130d ago

Channel 4 News

@channel4news.bsky.social

Mayors in England given powers to introduce a ‘tourist tax’ www.channel4.com/news/mayors-...

2329d ago

His Royal Huwness 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🐸🇵🇸🇪🇺2

THis has all the hallmarks of a failure that will be undone in a few months time

Portentious2

Is anyone visiting? I have heard that visitor numbers are waaaaay down since Brexit. And friends would like to visit but it’s expensive.

upandunder2025.bsky.social2

Have a tourist tax only when VAT on hospitality is reduced to 10-12% Mindless tax policies again

Andrew Quinn🏳️‍🌈🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇵🇸🤘🏻😸1

We're already absurdly expensive compared to much else in Europe, and if people haven't been paying attention tourism isn't much of a thing these days. Just guessing it might be to do with all the violent xenophobic hatred, and the complete absence of reaction from government and police.

Patrick - Here for the craic❗️🤷🏼‍♂️😉

@paddyopatrick.bsky.social

This is hysterical.. Farage saying Reform Mayors won’t use the Tourist Tax They care so much Reform Council Learders in Kent spent £600,000 on just 8 parking spaces so they can park for free.. Fun Fact - Reform has just 2 Regional Mayors, yes just 2.. not 20.. so what they do or don’t do is meh 🙄

1529d ago

Andrew Carter

@andrewcities.bsky.social

Mayors to be given the power to introduce an Overnight Levy (aka tourist tax) www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

830d ago

Quoting this

Ant Breach29

This is the first big step towards fiscal devolution. Major wins here on local autonomy are percentage rate (compared to flat fee) and no capping Together this means the visitor levy will provide a strong growth incentive for mayors who choose to introduce it + can be held accountable for results

Richard Leeming

@richardleeming.bsky.social

Sheesh, one of the things that’s most wrong with this country is hysterical, uninformed and stupid media coverage of good ideas. I’ve just booked a two week holiday in Italy and paid a tourist tax on every booking. Sat no point did it affect my decision on where to go and where to stay.

1530d ago

Boothby Graffoe

@boothbygraffoe.bsky.social

We have to pay extra to go on holiday in the country we live in? No wait, it gets better. If I stay overnight after a gig I have to pay extra then too. Looking forward to the future when they start charging me to sleep on my own sofa. www.theguardian.com/business/202...

929d ago

Claire #FBPE ☘️ 🍉 🇺🇦 🇪🇺🐝 🦮🇮🇪🇧🇪 💙💚

@fbpech.bsky.social

www.theguardian.com/business/202... A bloody stupid idea 4 beleaguered seaside towns. Clueless. In the seaside town near me, ppl are never on the 🏖️ because of sewage in the 🌊 ; Brexit has destroyed the foreign student/language 🏫 industry and the 🎣 industry has been seriously affected.

629d ago

Ant Breach

@antbreach.bsky.social

Ultimately this is not about Government introducing a "tourist tax for England" as it's up to the mayors. Some like Ben Houchen are already saying thanks but no thanks - this is exactly right as policy on this topic should be adapted to local conditions:

930d ago

Jason Heeley

@jaseheeley.bsky.social

Personally I'm absolutely fine with paying a tourist levy - especially if it helps cash-strapped local authorities, rather than going to chiselling holiday let owners. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

929d ago

Kev Lawson

@editkev.football

For towns who exist for tourism, this is a good option to have. This is fairly commonplace around major cities across Europe and the USA. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

830d ago

Steven Drew1

Big fan. We moved to Hastings a few years back. The Council has no money for the non essential stuff so it would be great to have a pot of £££ to make the place look more attractive.

Alasdair Cameron

@alasdaircameron.bsky.social

Excellent idea - and one which is common throughout much of the world. I am sure there will be much howling from the hotel industry, but really. In Bristol - use money to improve public transport and clean-up local environment! www.theguardian.com/business/202...

430d ago

Lynne #TaxTheRich #WelfareNotWarfare. Eco-Socialist. Pro-🇵🇸

@bebsdotteragain.bsky.social

I cant Imagine anyone who intends to visit a city, is going to be put off by a small surcharge! www.theguardian.com/business/202...

429d ago

Jack Hosier

@despol.bsky.social

I really don’t think a modest tourist tax in London is unreasonable. Visitors get free access to world-class museums and galleries, so even with a small levy London would still offer great value for money and remain hugely attractive to tourists. #BBCPM

629d ago

Politics UK

@politicsuk.com

🚨 SUMMARY: Andy Burnham will give all England mayors powers to introduce a "tourist tax" on overnight stays from 2028 The rate will be uncapped, although the Government does not expect mayors to charge more than 5%

429d ago

Livsbian 🌈2

Won’t this strangle the tourism trade in Slough? 🤔

3 sources

theguardian.comTourists in England face nightly levy on hotel and Airbnb stays under new plans bbc.co.ukEngland's mayors to be given power to introduce tourist tax news.sky.comPolitics latest: Mayors in England to be given power to impose tourist tax with 'no cap'

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England to let mayors impose nightly tourist tax on hotels and Airbnbs

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