One of the country’s most popular destinations for both visitors and short let accommodation is likely to be hit with a new tax.
St Ives in Cornwall has a permanent population of just 11,500 but plays host to around 200,000 overnight visitors over the course of each summer, with many of them staying in short let accommodation advertised on Airbnb and similar platforms. In addition there are over 500,000 day visitors.
Johnnie Wells, the mayor, has told BBC Spotlight that it’s becoming “harder and harder” for the town to maintain facilities for tourists. It already charges visitors for using public toilets - locals have a smart card system allowing them to use the loos for free.
Now Wells wants a local visitor tax which he claims would bring “massive benefit to the town” and would help people to feel like they were contributing to the local area. Funds raised would be spent on cleaning beaches, recycling facilities or maintaining essential services.
Since the start of last month anyone who stays in a city centre hotel or holiday apartment in Manchester must pay £1 per night, per room under the UK’s visit visitor tax scheme.
Wells says he’s in discussions with lettings platforms and local hoteliers to introduce something similar in St Ives.
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Labour ?
That’s a surprise
One way to kill trade, and why don't they concentrate on waste going out of the system instead. No doubt Johnnie and his band of Merry Militants will be on a three day week and still complaining its too much.
They are looking to tax us out of existence 💰💰
It should be illegal to charge for public toilets as the national taxpayer funds most of council services, not the local council taxpayer and certainly not the local benefit claimant.
This should be called a P Tax and then the rabble rousers will get all excited about banning it.
I don't see a problem with this if managed properly. When you stay in a hotel in France you pay a tiny percentage on top of your room in most locations that is a tax.
If I was a resident and did not benefit from tourism then I'd welcome the fact that the visitors make a small donation.
To me it's all about percentages. An extra £1 for a night stop seems fine. the same as a 10p to 50p on a meal as it should not just be about property owners.
It does need to be explained as a tax to improve and upkeep amenities. Locals should not pay.
I can't see why tourists coming to this country in their cars should be taxed road tax on the days they are here. It would be quite easy to action at ports etc. When i'm on toll roads overseas I need to pay!
I agree. I have Air B&B’s and as long as it’s a level playing field with Hotels and all kinds of accommodation charging a flat rate it seams fine. Tourism brings business to the area but the tax paid goes to central government. On top of that a lot of Holiday Let’s don’t pay council tax or rates either so how are the Councils supposed to pay for local facilities?
You two should stop talking common sense, you will be cancelled next..!
Klaus Schwab WEF, you will have nothing and be happy.
I was in New York last week. $5 per day room tax added to my hotel bill. It happens quite widely in other parts of the world and is fine if used to provide facilities used extensively by tourists
It will be used to upgrade hotel rooms for the guests from Calais
Can’t really see an issue with charging a modest tourist tax if helps keep the place safer, cleaner and with services.
Despite tourists bringing in revenue to local businesses they can also be a huge financial burden to locals. The trick is not to overcharge and kill the tourist industry.
Many other places have a problem of “over-tourism” and are taking steps to reduce the numbers, especially port cities which are being overwhelmed by literally thousands of cruise passengers coming into town at the same time. Here’s just a few other places now charging an overnight tourist tax or restricting the number of cruise ships at any one time.. Mallorca, Venice, Amsterdam, Santorini, Dubrovnik, Barcelona and many others.
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